Facilities for acute stroke patients care in the Czech Republic: nationwide epidemiological study.
OBJECTIVE
Stroke is the third most common cause of death in the Czech Republic (CR). Specialized in-patient stroke unit care improves the outcome of stroke patients. The aim of the study was to chart and improve the current facilities.


METHODS
Neurological in-patient departments exist in 75% of the districts in the CR, and in the capital Prague. Questionnaires were sent to all 79 neurological in-patient departments. A chi2 test was used for the evaluation of statistical significance.


RESULTS
There is better access to intensive/intermediary care beds (statistically not significant) and to angiography (statistically significant) in the districts with a population density of over 151 inhabitants per km2 than in districts with a lower population density (p = 0.09 and p = 0.008). Stroke patients have access within 1 hour to computed tomography of the brain in all but one, and to laboratory tests in all districts with a neurological in-patient department(s). There is no statistically significant difference in the availability of ultrasound examination of extracranial brain arteries between the sparse, and more populated districts (p = 0.715).


CONCLUSIONS
Facilities for the establishment of stroke units are quite good in the majority of highly populated areas; however, they are worse in some of the larger towns. The results of the study must be used to further improve the development of stroke care in the CR.
Herzig
R
R
Stroke Center, Clinic of Neurology, Faculty Hospital, Olomouc, Czech Republic. herzig.roman@sznam.cz
Urbánek
K
K
Vlachová
I
I
Krupka
B
B
Janout
V
V
Mares
J
J
D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D018153:Czech Republic; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity; D006767:Hospitals, District / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011156:Population Density; D011383:Progressive Patient Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014850:Waiting Lists