OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to describe survival status and risk factors of mortality on inpatients with ischemic stroke.

METHODS617 patients with continuous ischemic stroke cases were collected from January 2002 to June 2005 retrospectively in the Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University. In order to perceive relevant information on survival and the cause of death. All patients were followed through phone calls or mailing. The follow-up program was completed in January 2006. Kaplan-Meier methods were used for survival description. Monovariant and multivariant Cox's proportional hazard regression model were used to analyze prognostic factors on mortality.

RESULTSThe longest time in the follow-up program was 47 months with 59 dropped-out cases, making the dropout rate as 9.5%. Of these patients, 80 cases died during the period of study(60 for ischemic stroke,3 for cerebral hemorrhage, 10 for cardiac disease, 7 for other cause). The median survival time was 42. 16 months. The survival rates of one-year, two-year and three-year period were 91.9%, 89.4% and 85.3%, respectively. Monovariant and multivariant Cox's proportional hazard regression model showed that the risk factors associated with mortality were old age (RR = 1.043, 95% CI: 1.013-1.074), lower Glasgow scores (RR = 0.855, 95% CI: 0.742-0.985) ,poor conscious levels(RR = 4.085, 95% CI: 2.128-7.844) and having complication (RR = 1.765, 95% CI: 1.108-2.812).

CONCLUSIONThe results of this study suggested that the risk factors were old age, lower Glasgow scores, poor conscious levels and having complication on mortality of ischemic stroke.