Lund Stroke Register: hospitalization pattern and yield of different screening methods for first-ever stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To explore case ascertainment, hospitalization, characteristics of both hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients in a population-based group of stroke patients.


METHODS
One-year screening in Lund-Orup district for first-ever strokes using multiple prospective and retrospective methods.


RESULTS
A total of 456 patients with first-ever stroke (n = 412 prospective screening methods, n = 17 primary care, n = 12 hospital registers, n = 10 death register, n = 2 autopsy registers, n = 3 other). Hospitalization proportion within 14 days was 84%. Patients sent home from emergency unit (n = 36) were often males (75%), had low 28-day case-fatality (0%), and less severe strokes (median National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score 2 vs 4 for all). Patients managed solely within primary care (n = 18) were elderly (median age 89 vs 77 years for all), resided in nursing homes (86% vs 8% for all) and had high 28-day-case-fatality (61%).


CONCLUSIONS
Hospitalization was lower than expected. Two main categories of patients were not hospitalized: elderly patients at nursing homes with high case-fatality and patients with mild stroke.
Hallström
B
B
Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund, Neurology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Jönsson
A-C
AC
Nerbrand
C
C
Petersen
B
B
Norrving
B
B
Lindgren
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013548:Sweden