title: The SOAR stroke score predicts hospital length of stay in acute stroke: an external validation study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to externally validate the SOAR stroke score (Stroke subtype, Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project Classification, Age and prestroke modified Rankin score) in predicting hospital length of stay (LOS) following an admission for acute stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a multi-centre observational study in eight National Health Service hospital trusts in the Anglia Stroke & Heart Clinical Network between September 2008 and April 2011. The usefulness of the SOAR stroke score in predicting hospital LOS in the acute settings was examined for all stroke and then stratified by discharge status (discharged alive or died during the admission).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 3596 patients (mean age 77 years) with first-ever or recurrent stroke (92% ischaemic) were included. Increasing LOS was observed with increasing SOAR stroke score (p < 0.001 for both mean and median) and the SOAR stroke score of 0 had the shortest mean LOS (12 ± 20 days) while the SOAR stroke score of 6 had the longest mean LOS (26 ± 28 days). Among patients who were discharged alive, increasing SOAR stroke score had a significantly higher mean and median LOS (p < 0.001 for both mean and median) and the LOS peaked among patients with score value of 6 [mean (SD) 35 ± 31 days, median (IQR) 23 (14-48) days]. For patients who died as in-patient, there was no significant difference in mean or median LOS with increasing SOAR stroke score (p = 0.68 and p = 0.79, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This external validation study confirms the usefulness of the SOAR stroke score in predicting LOS in patients with acute stroke especially in those who are likely to survive to discharge. This provides a simple prognostic score useful for clinicians, patients and service providers.
authors: Institute of Applied Health Sciences, School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.|University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors: C S
authors: CS
authors: Kwok
authors: Norwich Medical School, Norwich, UK.
authors: A B
authors: AB
authors: Clark
authors: Norwich Medical School, Norwich, UK.
authors: S D
authors: SD
authors: Musgrave
authors: Norwich Medical School, Norwich, UK.|Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK.
authors: J F
authors: JF
authors: Potter
authors: Anglia Stroke & Heart Clinical Network, Cambridge, UK.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Dalton
authors: Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: Day
authors: James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston, UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: George
authors: Norwich Medical School, Norwich, UK.|Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK.
authors: A K
authors: AK
authors: Metcalf
authors: Colchester Hospital, Colchester, UK.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ngeh
authors: West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Nicolson
authors: Peterborough General Hospital, Peterborough, UK.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Owusu-Agyei
authors: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn, UK.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Shekhar
authors: Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon, UK.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Walsh
authors: Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors: E A
authors: EA
authors: Warburton
authors: Norwich Medical School, Norwich, UK.
authors: M O
authors: MO
authors: Bachmann
authors: Institute of Applied Health Sciences, School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.|Norwich Medical School, Norwich, UK.
authors: P K
authors: PK
authors: Myint
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000401:mortality