Improvement of survival in Polish stroke patients is related to reduced stroke severity and better control of risk factors : the Krakow Stroke Database
Improvement of survival in Polish stroke patients is related to reduced stroke severity and better control of risk factors : the Krakow Stroke Database
Improvement of survival in Polish stroke patients is related to reduced stroke severity and better control of risk factors : the Krakow Stroke Database
author:
Swarowska-Skuza Marta, Burkot Jacek, Janowska Aleksandra, Klimkowicz-Mrowiec Aleksandra , Pera Joanna , Słowik Agnieszka , Dziedzic Tomasz
Introduction: In the last decade, the stroke mortality rate in Poland significantly decreased. We hypothesised that stroke severity, the major determinant of outcome, is lowered in Polish stroke patients.
Material and methods: We compared the stroke severity in two cohorts of
first-ever ischaemic stroke patients admitted within 24 h after stroke onset
to the Department of Neurology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow in the years
1994-2000 and 2008-2012. To assess stroke severity we used the National
Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). We defined mild stroke as an NIHSS
score ≤ 4.
Results: We included 816 patients hospitalised in the years 1994-2000 and
569 patients hospitalised in the years 2008-2012. NIHSS score on admission was higher in the former (mean: 12.0 ±7.0 vs. 8.0 ±6.0, p < 0.01), and
the frequency of mild stroke was higher in the latter (12.7% vs. 41.8%, p <
0.01). Although the frequency of hypertension (67.3% vs. 81.2%, p < 0.01),
diabetes mellitus (20.8% vs. 26.4%, p = 0.02) and atrial fibrillation (20.7%
vs. 26.2%, p = 0.02) was higher in patients hospitalised in the years 2008-
2012, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure values and the frequency
of fasting hyperglycaemia were lower in this cohort. This cohort also less
frequently suffered from hypercholesterolaemia (25.4% vs. 16.3%, p < 0.01).
Conclusions: Reduced stroke severity is associated with better recognition
and control of risk factors and explains the improvement of survival in Polish
stroke patients.
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Udzielam licencji. Uznanie autorstwa - Użycie niekomercyjne - Na tych samych warunkach 4.0 Międzynarodowa