As the number of elderly people increases, the incidence of stroke, especially the hemorrhagic stroke, is increasing. A large-scale survey of the entire country pertaining to the incidence and demographic characteristics of hemorrhagic stroke in elderly is necessary. Through information garnered from a basic survey and clinical study, we must design a treatment program to reduce the mortality of elderly people through elucidating the specific properties of stroke pathophysiology.
Aged* ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Mortality ; Stroke*

BACKGROUNDStroke unit is the most effective treatment method to benefit stroke patients. Our study is to evaluate the early effectiveness of a hospital stroke unit (SU).

METHODSThree hundred and ninety-two patients who had suffered from acute strokes and who were admitted to our hospital between December 2001 and January 2003 were recruited for this controlled study. All patients were sent at random to either the SU or the general ward (GW) for treatment. The following indices were measured by: Barthel Index (BI), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Oxford Handicap Scale (OHS).

RESULTSThe mean change in BI score between the day of admission and the day of discharge was 20.00 +/- 24.36 for the SU group and 10.63 +/- 23.59 for the GW group. A difference that is statistically significant (P = 0.000). The mean change in NIHSS score was -2.01 +/- 6.61 for the SU group and 0.55 +/- 7.44 for the GW group. A difference that is also statistically significant (P = 0.000). Finally, the mean change in OHS score was -0.74 +/- 1.04 for the SU group and -0.28 +/- 0.98 for the GW group, also a statistically significant difference (P = 0.000). Among SU patients, patient satisfaction was higher (P = 0.000), the rehabilitation success rate was higher (P = 0.000), and there were fewer complications (P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONCompared to GW patients, stroke patients treated in a special SU were able to return to normal daily activities earlier, with better social abilities, and have reduced neurological defects, without increasing the overall economic burden.

Pediatric stroke is relatively rare but may lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Along with the advance of brain imaging technology and clinical awareness, diagnosis of pediatric stroke is increasing wordwide. Pediatric stroke differs from adults in variable risk factor/etiologies, diverse and nonspecific clinical presentation depending on ages. This review will be discussed pediatric stroke focusing on their clinical presentations, diagnosis and etiologies/risk factors.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Mortality ; Neuroimaging ; Risk Factors ; Stroke*

Intracerebral hemorrhage is a lethal stroke type with a high morbidity and mortality. Hematoma growth is one of the independent determinants of neurological and functional outcomes after intracerebral hemorrhage. Attenuation of growth is an important therapeutic strategy. Hemostatic therapeutic intervention, given ultra-early in the course of intracerebral hemorrhage, may thus improve clinical outcomes by arresting ongoing bleeding and limiting in turn the size of the hematoma. Recombinant factor VIIa is a hemostatic drug approved to treat bleeding in hemophilia or other coagulopathy; it has also been reported to arrest bleeding in nonhemophilic cases. We reviewed of the published articles specifically addressing clinical trials of recombinant factor VIIa treatment for acute intracerebral hemorrhage and evaluate the safety and feasibility of it.
Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Factor VIIa* ; Hematoma ; Hemophilia A ; Hemorrhage ; Mortality ; Stroke

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the general characteristics that affect the prognosis and evaluate the influence of stroke on one-year postoperative mortality and recovery of ambulatory status in elderly patients over 65 years old with femoral intertrochanteric fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 80 patients who were followed-up for one year after proximal femoral nailing for femur intertrochanteric fracture between January 2008 and December 2013. We analyzed the relationship among the one-year postoperative mortality, recovery of ambulatory status and the associated factors (age, gender, associated underlying disease, American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] grade, comminution of the fracture, dementia). RESULTS: The one-year postoperative mortality rate in all patients and patients with stroke was 28.8% and 42.9%, respectively. The one-year postoperative mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with stroke, high ASA grade, and unstable fracture. Decrease of the one-year postoperative ambulatory status was 50.9% in all patients and was significantly associated with grade III or IV ASA rating. No significant relationships were observed between the one-year postoperative recovery of ambulatory status and stroke. CONCLUSION: Stroke, ASA grade, and unstable fracture were prognostic factors associated with one-year postoperative mortality following intertrochanteric fracture. ASA rating was the only prognostic factor affecting one-year postoperative recovery of ambulatory status.
Aged ; Femur ; Hip Fractures* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Prognosis* ; Stroke*

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The recently developed total cerebral small-vessel disease (CSVD) score might appropriately reflect the total burden or severity of CSVD. We investigated whether the total CSVD score is associated with long-term outcomes during follow-up in patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: In total, 1,096 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging were enrolled. We calculated the total CSVD score for each patient after determining the burden of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), high-grade white-matter hyperintensities (HWHs), high-grade perivascular spaces (HPVSs), and asymptomatic lacunar infarctions (ALIs). We recorded the date and cause of death for all of the patients using data from the Korean National Statistical Office. We compared the long-term mortality rate with the total CSVD score using Cox proportional-hazards models. RESULTS: CMBs were found in 26.8% of the subjects (294/1,096), HWHs in 16.4% (180/1,096), HPVSs in 19.3% (211/1,096), and ALIs in 38.0% (416/1,096). After adjusting for age, sex, and variables that were significant at p<0.1 in the univariate analysis, the total CSVD score was independently associated with long-term death from all causes [hazard ratio (HR)=1.18 per point, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.07–1.30], ischemic stroke (HR=1.20 per point, 95% CI=1.01–1.42), and hemorrhagic stroke (HR=2.05 per point, 95% CI=1.30–3.22), but not with fatal cardiovascular events (HR=1.17 per point, 95% CI=0.82–1.67). CONCLUSIONS: The total CSVD score is a potential imaging biomarker for predicting mortality during follow-up in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Brain ; Cause of Death ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mortality* ; Stroke* ; Stroke, Lacunar

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The risks of falls and fractures increase after stroke. Little is known about the prognostic significance of previous falls and fractures after stroke. This study examined whether having a history of either event is associated with poststroke mortality. METHODS: We analyzed stroke register data collected prospectively between 2003 and 2015. Eight sex-specific models were analyzed, to which the following variables were incrementally added to examine their potential confounding effects: age, type of stroke, Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project classification, previous comorbidities, frailty as indicated by the prestroke modified Rankin Scale score, and acute illness parameters. Logistic regression was applied to investigate in-hospital and 30-day mortality, and Cox proportional-hazards models were applied to investigate longer-term outcomes of mortality. RESULTS: In total, 10,477 patients with stroke (86.1% ischemic) were included in the analysis. They were aged 77.7±11.9 years (mean±SD), and 52.2% were women. A history of falls was present in 8.6% of the men (n=430) and 20.2% of the women (n=1,105), while 3.8% (n=189) of the men and 12.9% of the women (n=706) had a history of both falls and fractures. Of the outcomes examined, a history of falls alone was associated with increased in-hospital mortality [odds ratio (OR)=1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.03–1.71] and 30-day mortality (OR=1.34, 95% CI=1.03–1.73) in women in the fully adjusted models. The Cox proportional-hazards models for longer-term outcomes and the history of falls and fractures combined showed no significant results. CONCLUSIONS: The history of falls is an important factor for acute stroke mortality in women. A previous history of falls may therefore be an important factor to consider in the short-term stroke prognosis, particularly in women.
Accidental Falls* ; Classification ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Mortality* ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Stroke*

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Little is known about the factors associated with in-hospital mortality following total anterior circulation stroke (TACS). We examined the characteristics and comorbidity data for TACS patients in relation to in-hospital mortality with the aim of developing a simple clinical rule for predicting the acute mortality outcome in TACS. METHODS: A routine data registry of one regional hospital in the UK was analyzed. The subjects were 2,971 stroke patients with TACS (82% ischemic; median age=81 years, interquartile age range=74–86 years) admitted between 1996 and 2012. Uni- and multivariate regression models were used to estimate in-hospital mortality odds ratios for the study covariates. A 6-point TACS scoring system was developed from regression analyses to predict in-hospital mortality as the outcome. RESULTS: Factors associated with in-hospital mortality of TACS were male sex [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.19], age (AOR=4.96 for ≥85 years vs. <65 years), hemorrhagic subtype (AOR=1.70), nonlateralization (AOR=1.75), prestroke disability (AOR=1.73 for moderate disability vs. no symptoms), and congestive heart failure (CHF) (AOR=1.61). Risk stratification using the 6-point TACS Score [T=type (hemorrhage=1 point) and territory (nonlateralization=1 point), A=age (65–84 years=1 point, ≥85 years=2 points), C=CHF (if present=1 point), S=status before stroke (prestroke modified Rankin Scale score of 4 or 5=1 point)] reliably predicted a mortality outcome: score=0, 29.4% mortality; score=1, 46.2% mortality [negative predictive value (NPV)=70.6%, positive predictive value (PPV)=46.2%]; score=2, 64.1% mortality (NPV=70.6, PPV=64.1%); score=3, 73.7% mortality (NPV=70.6%, PPV=73.7%); and score=4 or 5, 81.2% mortality (NPV=70.6%, PPV=81.2%). CONCLUSIONS: We have identified the key determinants of in-hospital mortality following TACS and derived a 6-point TACS Score that can be used to predict the prognosis of particular patients.
Comorbidity ; Heart Failure ; Hospital Mortality* ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Stroke*

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effect of endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke in patients over 80 years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 156 acute stroke patients aged over 80 years who were considered as candidates for EVT were analyzed. Fifty-six patients (35.9%, EVT group) underwent EVT and 100 patients (64.1%, non-EVT group) did not. Outcomes, in terms of functional outcomes and rates of symptomatic hemorrhage, in-hospital morbidity and mortality, were compared between groups. Each comparison was adjusted for age, time from onset, initial National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, and pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS). RESULTS: More patients in the EVT group achieved good outcomes (mRS score of 0-2) at 3 months (35.7% vs. 11.0%, adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.779 [95% confidence interval 1.972-11.579], p = 0.001) and 12 months (35.7% vs. 14.0%, adjusted OR 3.705 [1.574-8.722], p = 0.003) after stroke. During admission, rates of hospital-acquired infection including pneumonia (12.5% vs. 29.0%, adjusted OR 0.262 [0.098-0.703], p = 0.008) and urinary tract infection (16.0% vs. 34.0%, adjusted OR 0.256 [0.099-0.657], p = 0.005) were significantly lower in the EVT group. More symptomatic hemorrhages (10.7% vs. 2.0%, adjusted OR 6.859 [1.139-41.317], p = 0.036) occurred in the EVT group, but no significant difference was observed in in-hospital mortality rate (12.5% vs. 8.0%, adjusted OR 1.380 [0.408-4.664], p = 0.604). CONCLUSION: EVT improved functional outcome and reduced the risk of hospital-acquired infections in acute stroke patients over 80 years of age without increasing the risk of in-hospital mortality, although symptomatic hemorrhage occurred more frequently after EVT.
Hemorrhage ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Pneumonia ; Stroke* ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Urinary Tract Infections

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effect of endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke in patients over 80 years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 156 acute stroke patients aged over 80 years who were considered as candidates for EVT were analyzed. Fifty-six patients (35.9%, EVT group) underwent EVT and 100 patients (64.1%, non-EVT group) did not. Outcomes, in terms of functional outcomes and rates of symptomatic hemorrhage, in-hospital morbidity and mortality, were compared between groups. Each comparison was adjusted for age, time from onset, initial National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, and pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS). RESULTS: More patients in the EVT group achieved good outcomes (mRS score of 0-2) at 3 months (35.7% vs. 11.0%, adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.779 [95% confidence interval 1.972-11.579], p = 0.001) and 12 months (35.7% vs. 14.0%, adjusted OR 3.705 [1.574-8.722], p = 0.003) after stroke. During admission, rates of hospital-acquired infection including pneumonia (12.5% vs. 29.0%, adjusted OR 0.262 [0.098-0.703], p = 0.008) and urinary tract infection (16.0% vs. 34.0%, adjusted OR 0.256 [0.099-0.657], p = 0.005) were significantly lower in the EVT group. More symptomatic hemorrhages (10.7% vs. 2.0%, adjusted OR 6.859 [1.139-41.317], p = 0.036) occurred in the EVT group, but no significant difference was observed in in-hospital mortality rate (12.5% vs. 8.0%, adjusted OR 1.380 [0.408-4.664], p = 0.604). CONCLUSION: EVT improved functional outcome and reduced the risk of hospital-acquired infections in acute stroke patients over 80 years of age without increasing the risk of in-hospital mortality, although symptomatic hemorrhage occurred more frequently after EVT.
Hemorrhage ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Pneumonia ; Stroke* ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Urinary Tract Infections