title: Categorization of Ischemic Stroke Patients Compared with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Scientific guidelines recommend the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) for ischemic stroke (IS) assessment. In Clinical Department of Neurology of Split University Hospital Center nurses use the categorization of patients (COP) according to individual needs for health care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to demonstrate that there is a positive correlation between the COP and the NIHSS in IS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed NIHSS scores and COP findings in 325 participants (median age 77 years, min-max: 37-95 years) with acute ISs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is a statistically significant correlation between the NIHSS score at admission and COP at admission (ρ=0.717; P<0.001). There is a statistically significant correlation between the NIHSS score at discharge and COP at discharge (ρ=0.762; P<0.001). Median of NIHSS scores at admission is higher in females than in males for 2 (Z=4.45, P<0.001) and at discharge is higher for 2 (Z = 4.1, P<0.001). Median of COP at admission is higher in females than in males for 1 (Z=4.7, P<0.001) and at discharge is the same (Z=4.7, P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a significant association of NIHSS scores and COP in IS patients. This association exists at admission and at discharge from the hospital.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Neurology, Split University Hospital Center, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marendic
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Neurology, Split University Hospital Center, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ana Repic
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bulicic
authors.affiliation: School of medicine, University of Split, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Tonka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Borovina
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Neurology, Split University Hospital Center, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Nikolina Ivica
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Mise
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Neurology, Split University Hospital Center, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Rinaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romac
authors.affiliation: Neurological Clinic, Clinical Center of Sarajevo University, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Enra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Suljic
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Neurology, Split University Hospital Center, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Titlic
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University hospital "Sveti Duh", Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milosevic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017523:Croatia; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D009733:Nursing Diagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010343:Patient Admission; D010351:Patient Discharge; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014481:United States
keywords: The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; categorization of patient; ischemic stroke; nursing care