Survival over 12 years following acute stroke: initial treatment in a stroke unit vs general medical wards.
BACKGROUND
Few studies have assessed the influence of the organization of stroke care on long-term survival.


OBJECTIVE
To compare survival over 12 years after stroke between subjects treated in an acute stroke unit (SU) and those treated in general medical wards (GMW).


METHODS
In total, 550 subjects ≥60 years of age with acute stroke were prospectively allocated according to date of birth (day of the month) to treatment in a SU with relatively short length of stay or GMWs. We assessed survival through a link to the register of Statistics Norway. Groups were compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis on an intention-to-treat basis.


RESULTS
Of the 550 eligible subjects, 271 were allocated to a SU and 279 to GMWs. There still was no difference in mortality over 12 years between the groups (P = 0.15, log-rank test)


CONCLUSIONS
An acute SU offering early treatment and rehabilitation did not offer better long-term mortality after stroke in patients ≥60 years old than initial treatment in GMWs.
Helse Sør-Øst Health Services Research Centre, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway. knut.stavem@medisin.uio.no
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Rønning
D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D020521:Stroke / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*