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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Optimized Management of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Published on: January 18, 2018
[Centralised treatment of apoplexy is better]
1H:S Hvidovre Hospital, Afdeling for Neurorehabilitering, Apopleksiafsnittet, Hvidovre. tom.skyhoej.olsen@hh.hosp.dk
Insights
Stroke units significantly reduce mortality and disability for stroke patients. Despite proven cost-effectiveness, access to these specialized units remains limited, highlighting a need for expanded capacity.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Stroke units provide specialized care and rehabilitation for stroke survivors.
- Evidence demonstrates improved patient outcomes with stroke unit care.
- Cost-benefit analyses confirm the economic advantages of stroke units.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the established evidence on the effectiveness of stroke units.
- To highlight the cost-effectiveness of stroke unit care.
- To address the gap between evidence and implementation in stroke care.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing evidence on stroke unit treatment.
- Analysis of medical technology assessments regarding stroke unit cost-effectiveness.
- Discussion of implementation challenges and capacity limitations.
Main Results:
- Stroke unit care significantly reduces mortality (NNT=33) and disability (NNT=20).
- Stroke units are a cost-beneficial intervention.
- Despite over 15 years of evidence in Denmark, stroke unit capacity is insufficient.
Conclusions:
- Centralized stroke care in specialized units is a highly effective and cost-beneficial strategy.
- There is a critical need to increase stroke unit capacity to meet patient demand.
- Addressing capacity limitations is essential for optimizing stroke patient outcomes.
Abstract:
Substantial evidence is established showing that centralising treatment and rehabilitation of stroke victims in stroke units reduces mortality and disability. Numbers needed to treat are 33 in order to avoid death of at least one patient and treat 20 to avoid disability of at least one patient. A Danish medical technology assessment indicates that stroke units are cost-beneficial. This knowledge has been available in Denmark for more than 15 years, but there is still not sufficient capacity to treat all stroke patients in stroke units. Hopefully, this problem will be resolved in the near future.
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