Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Nov 2013
Comparative StudyTrends in antihypertensive drug prescription patterns among ambulatory stroke patients in the United States, 2000-2009.
Although the ambulatory setting is recognized as the best arena for optimizing antihypertensive drug treatment after a stroke, little is known about recent office-based antihypertensive drug treatment patterns in the United States. We assessed national trends in antihypertensive treatment for stroke patients in office-based medical practice. ⋯ Over the last decade, there was a significant rise in the use of antihypertensive drugs and combination of agent classes for patients aged 40 years or older seen in an ambulatory setting with a diagnosis of stroke. PCPs were more likely than neurologists to prescribe these agents.
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Nov 2013
Risk factors for poor outcome and mortality at 3 months after the ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.
It has been shown that patients with atrial fibrillation have a poor prognosis in the early recovery phase after ischemic stroke (IS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA). The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with poor outcome, including mortality, 3 months after the onset of IS in patients with atrial fibrillation. ⋯ Age, gender, and NIHSS score were independently associated with poor outcome for IS or TIA patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in the early recovery stage.
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Nov 2013
National survey of thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke in Taiwan 2003-2010.
Data on thrombolytic therapy at the national level is scarce in Asia. Understanding current practice pattern is important for a policy maker in decision making. This cross-sectional study analyzed the utilization pattern of thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in Taiwan from 2003 through 2010 and identified factors associated with post-therapy intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and mortality. ⋯ Patients given thrombolytic therapy in hospitals with thrombolysis cases more than the 5.5/year had a lower risk of ICH (odds ratio: .53; 95% confidence interval: .31-.88). Compared with most developed countries, there is indeed much unmet need for stroke thrombolysis in Taiwan. Effective mechanism should be implemented to increase the thrombolysis rate safely and improve outcome for patients with AIS.
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Nov 2013
The emergence of endovascular treatment-only centers for treatment of intracranial aneurysms in the United States.
Because of the availability of new technology, the spectrum of endovascular treatment for intracranial aneurysms has expanded widely. Some centers have started offering only endovascular treatment to patients with intracranial aneurysms (endovascular treatment-only centers [ETOCs]). Our objective was to identify the proportion and outcome of patients treated at ETOCs in the United States. ⋯ The recent emergence of ETOCs and provision of treatment with comparable outcomes and shorter length of stay at these hospitals may change the pattern of intracranial aneurysm treatment in the United States.
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Nov 2013
Short- and long-term survival after stroke in hospitalized patients in Chile: a nationwide 5-year study.
Short- and long-term stroke survival is a key indicator of hospital performance in stroke care. Our aim was to estimate short- and long-term survival rates in discharged patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke in Chile in a 5-year period and identify associated variables. ⋯ Short- and long-term survival after ischemic stroke was heterogeneous by geographic regions and type of health insurance, regardless age and sex were the strongest predictors. This suggests an impact of socioeconomic factors and access to acute management of strokes on survival.