title: Pilot study of the characteristics of acute stroke events in patients discharged from the Carolina University Hospital, Puerto Rico in 2007.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Puerto Rico. We examined the pre-hospital phase, management and case-fatality-rates (CFR) of patients discharged with acute stroke from the Carolina University of Puerto Rico Hospital during 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  Trained personnel collected information on demographics, delay-time, mode-of-transportation, management, and mortality from all medical records. STATAâ was utilized to conduct univariate comparison of demographics, mode-of-transportation, therapeutics and diagnostic characteristics. Logistic regression analysis assessed cohort effect and controlled for confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age was 69.1 years, and 53% were males. The average delay between onset of symptoms suggestive of stroke and arrival at the emergency department was 4.5 hours. Only 62% of patients utilized Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Intravenous thrombolysis was not administered. Stroke mortality increased with age. Ischemic vs. hemorrhagic CFR was significantly higher (63.9% vs. 36.10%; p = 0.034).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings highlight the potential benefit of evidence-based therapeutics and EMS use among stroke patients.
authors.affiliation: Office of Clinical Research, Endowed Health Services Research Center, San Juan, PR 00936-5067. juan.zevallos@upr.edu
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zevallos
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Ada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Ana Michelle
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Felixa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Flecha
authors.forename: Marielys
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colón
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yarzebski
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003376:Counseling; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006753:Hospital Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents