title: The International Stroke Trial database.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to make individual patient data from the International Stroke Trial (IST), one of the largest randomised trials ever conducted in acute stroke, available for public use, to facilitate the planning of future trials and to permit additional secondary analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  For each randomised patient, we have extracted data on the variables assessed at randomisation, at the early outcome point (14-days after randomisation or prior discharge) and at 6-months and provide them as an analysable database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IST dataset includes data on 19 435 patients with acute stroke, with 99% complete follow-up. Over 26.4% patients were aged over 80 years at study entry. Background stroke care was limited and none of the patients received thrombolytic therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IST dataset provides a source of primary data which could be used for planning further trials, for sample size calculations and for novel secondary analyses. Given the age distribution and nature of the background treatment given, the data may be of value in planning trials in older patients and in resource-poor settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK. Peter.Sandercock@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: Peter A G
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sandercock
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niewada
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Członkowska
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001208:Asia; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001315:Australia; D002170:Canada; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019992:Databases as Topic; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012008:Recurrence; D012107:Research Design; D013019:South Africa; D013020:South America; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006493:Heparin; D001241:Aspirin