Related Experiment Videos
Acute intrahospital stroke mortality--an improving picture.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine
|February 1, 1980
Summary
Stroke mortality significantly decreased in South Australian hospitals between 1968 and 1977. This decline in stroke case fatality ratios suggests a reduction in stroke severity at presentation.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Stroke syndrome represents a significant cause of mortality.
- Intrahospital stroke mortality rates have historically been a concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in case fatality ratios for stroke syndrome.
- To investigate changes in stroke mortality over a decade in South Australian teaching hospitals.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of patient data from two South Australian Teaching Hospitals.
- Comparison of stroke mortality rates between 1968-1969 and 1976-1977.
Main Results:
- Intrahospital acute phase stroke mortality decreased from 28.1% to 18.3% between 1968-69 and 1976-77.
- Male stroke mortality fell from 28.1% to 17.0%; female mortality decreased from 28.4% to 19.9%.
- No significant changes were observed in age distribution or hospital admission criteria that could explain the improved mortality.
Conclusions:
- The observed reduction in stroke mortality is unlikely due to changes in therapeutic methods.
- The data suggest a potential decrease in the overall severity of stroke presentations during the study period.