title: Implementation of a stroke registry is associated with an improvement in stroke performance measures in a tertiary hospital in Mexico.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke registries provide a simple way for improving patient care, and its use has been associated with a better adherence to the published guidelines. Few Latin American countries had established stroke registries. Our study is the first in Mexico to report the effects of implementing a stroke registry. To determine if the implementation of a systematized registry is associated with an improved adherence to the performance measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared prospective data (August 2008-November 2010) against historical controls (February 2005-July 2008). Our stroke registry (i-Registro Neurovascular) consists of a standardized clinical form that includes demographic and clinical variables (risk factors, medications, neuroimaging, etiology, acute and outpatient treatments, and neurologic scores [National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and modified Rankin Scale]). We evaluated 9 performance measures suggested by the American Heart Association and the Joint Commission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed the data from 574 patients, 260 from the prospective phase and 314 from historical controls. No significant statistical differences in demographic characteristics or stroke risk factors were found. The implementation of the stroke registry was associated with a statistically significant (P < .05) improvement in almost all of the acute performance measures. The composite measure also showed an improvement form 52.6%-68.8% (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implementation of a systematized registry significantly improved our clinical practice. This intervention is a low cost and readily achievable and a viable option for encouraging an increased report of guidelines adherence of other hospitals in Latin America.
authors: Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez, School of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico, México.
authors: Ana Lucia
authors: AL
authors: Herrera
authors: Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez, School of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico, México. Electronic address: fernando.gongora@hotmail.com.
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Góngora-Rivera
authors: Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez, School of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico, México.
authors: Walter
authors: W
authors: Muruet
authors: Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez, School of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico, México.
authors: Héctor Jorge
authors: HJ
authors: Villarreal
authors: Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez, School of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico, México.
authors: Mildred
authors: M
authors: Gutiérrez-Herrera
authors: Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez, School of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico, México.
authors: Lena
authors: L
authors: Huerta
authors: Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez, School of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico, México.
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Carrasco
authors: Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez, School of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico, México.
authors: Anally
authors: A
authors: Soto-García
authors: Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez, School of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico, México.
authors: Meztli
authors: M
authors: Espinosa-Ortega
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Stroke; database; ischemic; quality of care; stroke care