title: Complications in the first week after stroke: a 10-year comparison.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Complications after stroke have been associated with poor outcome. Modern stroke treatment might reduce the occurrence of complications. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the frequency and type of complications during the first week after stroke has changed in patients treated in a stroke unit in 2013 compared to 2003.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total 489 patients in 2003 and 185 patients in 2013 with acute stroke were included and followed prospectively for 1 week, examining the frequency of 12 predefined complications adjusted for severity of stroke. Informed consent was given by all patients or their next of kin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean (SD) age was 77.2 (10.2) and 76.9 (8.5) in 2003 and 2013 respectively, P = 0.455. Severity of stroke, measured by the Scandinavian Stroke Scale, was 39.5 (16.8) versus 37.0 (16.4), P = 0.011. After adjustment for stroke severity the results showed an odds ratio of 0.64 for experiencing one or more complications in the 2013 cohort versus the 2003 cohort, P = 0.035. The subgroup analysis showed that the reduction was only significant in the group with moderate stroke, with 74 % experiencing one or more complications in 2003 compared to 45 % in 2013, P < 0.001. Progressing stroke and myocardial infarction occurred significantly less frequent in 2013 than in 2003; the frequency of other complications remained unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of experiencing one or more complications has decreased from 2003 to 2013. The reduction was most pronounced in patents with moderate stroke with a significant reduction in progressing stroke and myocardial infarction.
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. martibov@stud.ntnu.no.
authors: Martina Reiten
authors: MR
authors: Bovim
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors: Torunn
authors: T
authors: Askim
authors: Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Faculty of Medicine, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors: Stian
authors: S
authors: Lydersen
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.|The Norwegian Stroke Register, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
authors: Hild
authors: H
authors: Fjærtoft
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.|The Norwegian Stroke Register, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.|Stroke unit, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
authors: Bent
authors: B
authors: Indredavik
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Complications; Falls; Infarction; Infection; Progressing stroke