Clinical opportunities of an Italian Stroke Databank

Traditionally, stroke epidemiology has been based on 3 different study models: (a) Studies based on retrospective analysis of discharge and administrative forms have been used by health authorities to calculate the stroke burden in a given territory. However, the information coming from this source is heavily biased due to the limitations of the scientific and practical value of these tools. (b) Hospital-based studies have made an important contribution to the knowledge of aetiology, pathophysiology, clinical scenarios and diagnostic work-up of stroke, but they have limitations as well, in that the whole impact of the disease in the community is underestimated, and the real clinical management of stroke patients in the territory is ignored, as these studies are performed in very well known centres with a high interest in stroke and good access to diagnostic facilities. (c) Finally, community-based studies are often incomplete in terms of diagnostic details, but can give real and clear information on the epidemiological impact and on the health system needs in stroke management.