title: Is persistent visual neglect associated with poor survival?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association of visual neglect with survival after right hemisphere (RH) stroke has received only limited attention.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study explores the relationship of visual neglect and its spontaneous recovery to survival in a homogenous patient group with first-ever RH stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one RH stroke patients who suffered an infarct between 1994 and 1997 were retrospectively followed for survival until August 31, 2009. Acute-phase neurological, neuropsychological and neuroradiological data were studied to identify predictors of survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight patients died during the follow-up. Age, education, and poor recovery of visual neglect emerged as significant single predictors of death. The best set of predictors for poor survival in the multivariate model was poor recovery of visual neglect and low education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor recovery of visual neglect is associated with long-term mortality in RH infarct patients. The follow-up of RH patients' neuropsychological performance gives additional information about the prognosis.
authors.affiliation: University of Tampere, Department of Psychology, Tampere, Finland. ; Tampere University Hospital, Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jehkonen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laihosalo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saunamäki
authors.forename: A-M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Koivisto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dastidar
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ahonen
keywords: cognition; neglect; stroke; survival