[Evaluation of late results of stroke based on 12-year prospective study]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Clinical Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Brain stroke (cerebrovascular accident) is a leading cause of long-term disability.
• Understanding long-term outcomes and recovery patterns is crucial for patient management and public health strategies.
• Previous studies often focus on short-term mortality or specific risk factors, with less emphasis on long-term functional recovery in a broad patient cohort.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the long-term outcomes of patients who survived a brain stroke.
• To identify factors associated with survival and functional recovery 12 years post-stroke.
• To assess the proportion of survivors who regained independence in daily life activities.

Main Methods:

• A prospective follow-up study design was employed.
• Data were collected over 12 years from an initial cohort of 1538 patients who suffered a brain stroke.
• A subgroup of 140 surviving patients (69 men, 71 women) was analyzed for clinical characteristics and functional status.

Main Results:

• The 12-year survival rate was 9.1% (140 out of 1538 initial patients).
• Survivors were predominantly those who experienced stroke before age 70 and had less severe initial clinical presentations.
• The majority of survivors had hemispheric brain infarction, with nearly half experiencing no motor disorders and 70.7% retaining independence in everyday activities.

Conclusions:

• Long-term survival after brain stroke is associated with younger age at onset and less severe initial stroke.
• A significant proportion of brain stroke survivors can achieve good functional recovery, including independence in daily life activities.
• These findings highlight the importance of early intervention and management to improve long-term prognoses for stroke patients.