[Centralised treatment of apoplexy is better].
Substantial evidence is established showing that centralising treatment and rehabilitation of stroke victims in stroke units reduces mortality and disability. Numbers needed to treat are 33 in order to avoid death of at least one patient and treat 20 to avoid disability of at least one patient. A Danish medical technology assessment indicates that stroke units are cost-beneficial. This knowledge has been available in Denmark for more than 15 years, but there is still not sufficient capacity to treat all stroke patients in stroke units. Hopefully, this problem will be resolved in the near future.
Olsen
Tom Skyhøj
TS
H:S Hvidovre Hospital, Afdeling for Neurorehabilitering, Apopleksiafsnittet, Hvidovre. tom.skyhoej.olsen@hh.hosp.dk
D002497:Centralized Hospital Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D020521:Stroke / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D015996:Survival Rate