Education level and inequalities in stroke reperfusion therapy: observations in the Swedish stroke register.

Background And Purpose: Previous studies have revealed inequalities in stroke treatment based on demographics, hospital type, and region. We used the Swedish Stroke Register (Riksstroke) to test whether patient education level is associated with reperfusion (either or both of thrombolysis and thrombectomy) treatment.

Methods: We included 85 885 patients with ischemic stroke aged 18 to 80 years registered in Riksstroke between 2003 and 2009.

Implementing thrombolytic guidelines in stroke care: perceived facilitators and barriers.

We performed a qualitative study to identify facilitators of and barriers to the implementation of national guidelines on thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke. We interviewed physicians and nurses at nine Swedish hospitals using 16 explorative, semistructured interviews, and selected hospitals based on their implementation rate of new stroke care methods according to data from the Swedish Stroke Register, Riks-Stroke. Through content analysis, we identified facilitators and barriers to implementation, which we classified into three categories: (a) individuals, (b) social interactions and context, and (c) organizational and resource issues.

Thrombolytic therapy rates and stroke severity: an analysis of data from the Swedish stroke register (Riks-Stroke) 2007-2010.

Background And Purpose: We tested the hypothesis that higher proportions of patients with minor stroke being treated with thrombolysis contribute to increasing overall rates of thrombolysis.

Methods: We included 1743 ischemic stroke patients (age 18-80 years) treated with thrombolysis, recorded in the Swedish stroke register Riks-Stroke between 2007 and 2010. Minor stroke was defined as National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≤ 5.

Discarding heparins as treatment for progressive stroke in Sweden 2001 to 2008.

Background And Purpose: High-dose heparin has been used extensively to treat patients with progressive ischemic stroke, but the scientific support is poor and the current stroke guidelines advise against its use. We studied how heparin treatment for progressive stroke has been discarded in Sweden.

Methods: All 78 hospitals in Sweden that admit acute stroke patients participate in Riks-Stroke, the Swedish Stroke Register.