[Apoplexy units--reduced mortality, need for nursing homes, length of stay and cost savings]

Treatment of stroke patients on specialised stroke units has become more frequent, yet the effect of this treatment has not been determined. In this prospective, community-based study of 1241 unselected acute stroke patients we compared outcome between patients geographically randomised to treatment on a stroke unit or a general neurological/medical ward, from the time of acute admission to the end of rehabilitation. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two treatment groups regarding age, sex, marital status, prestroke residence, and stroke severity. The patients treated on the stroke unit had higher comorbidity with regard to hypertension and diabetes. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were applied to estimate the independent influence of stroke unit treatment on outcome. Stroke unit treatment significantly reduced in-hospital mortality (OR 0.50), case-fatality rate (OR 0.45), 6-month mortality (OR 0.57), 1-year mortality (0.59, and discharge rate to a nursing home (OR 0.61). The relative chance of being discharged to own home was almost doubled (OR 1.9), and the length of hospital stay reduced by 30% in patients treated on the stroke unit, P < 0.001. Treatment of unselected stroke patients on a stroke unit saves lives, nursing homes, and cost.