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Updated: May 28, 2026
Optimized Management of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Published on: January 18, 2018
Survival over 12 years following acute stroke: initial treatment in a stroke unit vs general medical wards
1Helse Sør-Øst Health Services Research Centre, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway. knut.stavem@medisin.uio.no
Background:
Few studies have assessed the influence of the organization of stroke care on long-term survival.
Aims Of The Study:
To compare survival over 12 years after stroke between subjects treated in an acute stroke unit (SU) and those treated in general medical wards (GMW).
Methods:
In total, 550 subjects ≥60 years of age with acute stroke were prospectively allocated according to date of birth (day of the month) to treatment in a SU with relatively short length of stay or GMWs. We assessed survival through a link to the register of Statistics Norway. Groups were compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis on an intention-to-treat basis.
Results:
Of the 550 eligible subjects, 271 were allocated to a SU and 279 to GMWs. There still was no difference in mortality over 12 years between the groups (P = 0.15, log-rank test)
Conclusions:
An acute SU offering early treatment and rehabilitation did not offer better long-term mortality after stroke in patients ≥60 years old than initial treatment in GMWs.
