title: Open, randomized pilot study after first stroke: a 3.5-year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although care in stroke units has improved outcome in stroke patients, it is less clear whether specialized outpatient care after stroke can further improve the prognosis. We therefore conducted a pilot study comparing specialized long-term care with usual care after a first stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 2-year period, 549 patients were discharged alive from our stroke unit. Eighty-one patients were randomized to follow-up care at the stroke outpatient clinic (intervention group), and 82 patients were randomized to follow-up care with their general practitioner (control group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences in baseline variables were noted between the 2 groups. At the 12-month visit, there were no significant differences between the groups with respect to handicap, depression, and perceived health. During 3.5 years of follow-up, no differences in mortality, stroke recurrence rate, and unplanned hospitalizations were observed between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this small pilot study, specialized follow-up service for stroke patients was not superior to "usual care."
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Welin
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bjälkefur
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roland
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors