title: Acute stroke care in an Irish general hospital.
abstract: A majority of in-patients with acute stroke in Ireland are cared for by general physicians. We studied the process of care and outcomes of stroke patients admitted to an acute general hospital in a rural setting. Ninety-five patients (55 males and 40 females) were admitted over 36 weeks. A majority of patients had a CT brain scan (97%) and were assessed by the multidisciplinary team (59-70%). The mean length of stay was 16.6 days. In patient mortality was 18.9%. The commonest discharge destination was to the Medical Rehabilitation Unit (44%). A high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was identified indicating significant potential for secondary prevention.
authors.affiliation: St James Hospital, Dublin 8.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Farrelly
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014463:Ultrasonography