(Stroke. 1999;30:930-933.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.
Original Contributions |
Treatment and Rehabilitation on a Stroke Unit Improves 5-Year Survival
A Community-Based Study
From the Departments of Neurology (H.S.J., L.P.K., H.N., P.H.) and Radiology (H.O.R., K.L.), Bispebjerg Hospital, Frederiksberg Hospital, and Gentofte Hospital (T.S.O.), Copenhagen, Denmark.
Background and Purpose—We have previously reported a marked reduction in mortality up to 1 year after treatment and rehabilitation on a stroke unit versus on general neurological and medical wards in unselected stroke patients. In the present study we wanted to test the hypothesis that this mortality-reducing effect is not temporary but is long lasting.
Methods—We performed a community-based comparison of outcome in 1241 stroke patients from 2 adjacent communities in Copenhagen: in one (Frederiksberg), treatment and rehabilitation were provided on general neurological and medical wards, and in the other (Bispebjerg), treatment and rehabilitation were provided on a single large stroke unit.
Results—The 2 stroke populations were comparable regarding age, sex, initial stroke severity, lesion diameter on CT, and stroke subtype (hemorrhage/infarct), but patients treated on the stroke unit had a higher frequency of comorbidity and lower incomes. One-year mortality was 39% (general wards) versus 32% (stroke unit) (P=0.01). This difference was still present 5 years after stroke (71% versus 64%; P=0.02). In a multiple logistic regression model of 5-year mortality, treatment on a stroke unit reduced the relative risk of death by 40% (odds ratio, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.85; P<0.01), independent of age, sex, stroke severity, and comorbidity.
Conclusions—The mortality-reducing effect of treatment and rehabilitation on a dedicated stroke unit is long lasting rather than temporary. Stroke unit treatment reduced the relative risk of death within 5 years after stroke by 40% in an unselected, community-based stroke population. These results emphasize the need for organization of treatment and rehabilitation of unselected stroke patients on dedicated stroke units.
Key Words: mortality • rehabilitation • stroke management • stroke outcome • stroke units
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