Neuroepidemiology
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It is important to establish the validity of diagnostic coding in administrative datasets used in stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) research. This study examines the accuracy of emergency department (ED) TIA diagnosis and final diagnostic coding after hospital admission. ⋯ Half of the emergency diagnoses retained a TIA diagnosis after hospital admission. In the setting of neurological admission there were small percentage differences between coded final diagnosis for TIA, stroke and mimic and diagnoses at expert review. Admission of ED TIA cases permitted identification of TIA mimics with serious conditions requiring non-TIA management.
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The prolonged length of stay (PLOS) score has recently been derived and validated in 2 independent national cohorts of acute stroke patients in Israel. The present study aimed to determine the performance of the PLOS score in an independent population-based cohort of stroke patients in a health care system considerably different from that in which the score was derived. ⋯ The PLOS score successfully predicted PLOS in the OXVASC population of acute stroke patients. Although the score was originally derived for the prediction of prolonged acute hospitalization, it successfully predicted prolonged total LOS.