title: Efficacy of a clinical stroke score in monitoring complications in acute ischaemic stroke patients could be used as an independent prognostic factor.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Presence of medical complications in stroke patients has been established. The efficacy of a stroke score in intensive monitoring of these complications in acute ischaemic stroke patients has not been studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-seven patients with acute ischaemic stroke were assessed with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) by the examiner within days of admission; (1, 7, 30, and 90 days). Onset and types of complications were documented within the duration of the study period, using a questionnaire and laboratory investigations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-nine [67.8%] patients in the study population had complications, with mean initial NIHSS score 17.1 ± 7.9; mortality was 39%, and 27.8% of survivors had good recovery. In patients without complications, the mean initial NIHSS score was 11.4 ± 6.0; mortality was not observed, and 50% of survivors had good recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All patients without complications survived. High NIHSS scores, (with minimal changes below baseline) were related to high mortality and morbidity in the complications group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Lagos State College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. brainattack2003@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Clara Olakunbi
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Dawodu
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Bamisile
mesh_terms: D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors