title: Time of presentation of stroke patients in São Paulo Hospital.
abstract: With the advent of time-dependent thrombolytic therapy for ischemic stroke it has become increasingly important for stroke patients to arrive at the hospital quickly. This study investigated the time that our patients took since the recognition of the symptoms until the stroke diagnosis in a hospital in the city of S o Paulo. We concluded that in our hospital medical personnel and paramedics did not consider stroke as a medical emergency before neurological evaluation. Social problems as lack of access to an effective emergency medical service are another important factor that was responsible for patient's delay. Our study was important in order to identify the problems that stroke patients face in our country until the diagnosis is established.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, São Paulo Hospital, Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo Federal University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Fábio Santos
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Leopoldino
authors.forename: Marcia Maiumi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Fukujima
authors.forename: Gisele Sampaio
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Gilmar Fernandes
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: do Prado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator