Socioeconomic differences in quality of care and clinical outcome after stroke: a nationwide population-based study.

Background And Purpose: The association among socioeconomic status, quality of care, and clinical outcome after stroke remains poorly understood. In a Danish nationwide follow-up study, we examined whether socioeconomic-related differences in acute stroke care occur and, if so, whether they explain socioeconomic differences in case-fatality and readmission risk.

Methods: Using population-based public registries, we identified and followed all patients aged≤65 years admitted with stroke from 2003 to 2007 (n=14,545).