Preserved Corticospinal Tract Revealed by Acute Perfusion Imaging Relates to Better Outcome After Thrombectomy in Stroke.

Background: The indication for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in stroke patients with large vessel occlusion has been constantly expanded over the past years. Despite remarkable treatment effects at the group level in clinical trials, many patients remain severely disabled even after successful recanalization. A better understanding of this outcome variability will help to improve clinical decision-making on MT in the acute stage.

Association Between Adherence to Quality Indicators and 7-Day In-Hospital Mortality After Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background And Purpose: Quality indicators (QI) are an accepted tool to measure performance of hospitals in routine care. We investigated the association between quality of acute stroke care defined by overall adherence to evidence-based QI and early outcome in German acute care hospitals.

Methods: Patients with ischemic stroke admitted to one of the hospitals cooperating within the ADSR (German Stroke Register Study Group) were analyzed.

Stroke unit care in germany: the german stroke registers study group (ADSR).

Background: Factors influencing access to stroke unit (SU) care and data on quality of SU care in Germany are scarce. We investigated characteristics of patients directly admitted to a SU as well as patient-related and structural factors influencing adherence to predefined indicators of quality of acute stroke care across hospitals providing SU care.

Methods: Data were derived from the German Stroke Registers Study Group (ADSR), a voluntary network of 9 regional registers for monitoring quality of acute stroke care in Germany.

Dysphagia in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke: Early Dysphagia Screening May Reduce Stroke-Related Pneumonia and Improve Stroke Outcomes.

Background: Dysphagia is associated with poor outcome in stroke patients. Studies investigating the association of dysphagia and early dysphagia screening (EDS) with outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are rare. The aims of our study are to investigate the association of dysphagia and EDS within 24 h with stroke-related pneumonia and outcomes.

The quality of acute stroke care- an analysis of evidence-based indicators in 260 000 patients.

Background: Stroke patients should be cared for in accordance with evidence-based guidelines. The extent of implementation of guidelines for the acute care of stroke patients in Germany has been unclear to date.

Methods: The regional quality assurance projects that cooperate in the framework of the German Stroke Registers Study Group (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Schlaganfall-Register, ADSR) collected data on the care of stroke patients in 627 hospitals in 2012.

Statin treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Background And Purpose: We aimed to investigate the association of statin treatment with outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: Over a 4.5-year period (starting November 2007), 12 781 patients (mean age, 72·8 ± 12·6 years; 48·6% women) with acute ischemic stroke from 15 hospitals in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, were enrolled in a population-based study and prospectively evaluated.

The incidence and clinical predictors of acute infarction in patients with transient ischemic attack using MRI including DWI.

Introduction: According to the most recent definition of transient ischemic attack (TIA) and the recommendations of the American Heart Association, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is considered a mandatory tool in evaluating and treating patients with TIA. This study aims to determine the incidence of TIA-related acute infarction, identify the independent predictors of acute infarction, and investigate the correlation between acute infarction detected by DWI-MRI and stroke risk during hospitalization.

Methods: Over a 36-month period (starting November 2007), all TIA patients (symptom duration of <24 h) who were admitted to hospital within 48 h of symptom onset and who underwent DWI-MRI were included in this population-based prospective study.

Use of cranial CT to identify a new infarct in patients with a transient ischemic attack.

Research on infarct detection by noncontrast cranial computed tomography (CCT) in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) is sparse. However, the aims of this study are to determine the frequency of new infarcts in patients with TIA, to evaluate the independent predictors of infarct detection, and to investigate the association between a new infarct and early short-term risk of stroke during hospitalization. We prospectively evaluated 1533 consecutive patients (mean age, 75.

The prognostic impact of the stroke unit concept after transient ischemic attack.

Background And Purpose: Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is associated with high short-term risk of stroke, especially in the early phase following the event. Data about the impact of the early hospitalization in a stroke unit on patients with TIA are sparse. This study compares the prognostic impact of the stroke unit concept with conventional care on patients with TIA.

A vasculitis centre based management strategy leads to improved outcome in eosinophilic granulomatosis and polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss, EGPA): monocentric experiences in 150 patients.

Objective: To evaluate a vasculitis centre based management strategy for eosinophilic granulomatosis and polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss, EGPA).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study at a vasculitis referral centre was performed. All EGPA patients admitted from 1990 to 2009 were included.

Predictors of in-hospital mortality and the risk of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage after thrombolytic therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in acute ischemic stroke.

Recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator (rt-PA) therapy improves functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) but is associated with serious complications, including symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). This study aimed to determine the independent predictors of in-hospital mortality (IHM) and the risk of sICH after rt-PA therapy. A total of 1007 patients (mean age, 72 ± 12 years; 52% women; mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score, 11.

Short-term risk and predictors of stroke after transient ischemic attack.

Background: Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a marker of stroke, especially in the early phase following this event. The aims of this study are to determine the short-term risk of stroke and to evaluate the independent predictors of stroke in patients with TIA who are hospitalized within 48 hours after symptom onset.

Methods: During a 36-month period (beginning in November 2007), 3554 patients (mean age: 70.

[Quality Association for Acute Stroke Treatment Schleswig-Holstein (QugSS)].

The Quality Association for Acute Stroke Treatment Schleswig-Holstein (QugSS) continues a project which was conducted from 2004 to 2007 as part of a benchmarking programme funded by the German Health Ministry. The implementation of the benchmarking programme in 15 hospitals was intended to improve patient-related outcomes of the inpatient treatment of acute stroke. Regular reports to the Quality Association are complemented by quarterly meetings of the association members to compare and discuss the results of the participating hospitals.

Missing data due to a 'checklist misconception-effect'.

Objectives: To analyze the extent and relevance of a postulated "checklist misconception-effect" (a specific response pattern characterized by symptom-free persons not checking the "not at all"-category).

Methods: Our data is derived from a survey of blue collar workers (n = 228) who previously had filed in applications for medical rehabilitation benefits. We defined the "checklist misconception-effect" by the following response pattern: (1) at least one missing value and (2) at least one valid item response and (3) no 'not at all' responses.

Variation in back pain between countries: the example of Britain and Germany.

Study Design: Cross-sectional survey with personal interviews.

Objective: To study national differences in subjective health, back pain, and self-perceived disability between the United Kingdom and Germany.

Summary Of Background Data: Back pain is a leading health problem in most Western populations, causing enormous costs to the national health systems.

[Predictive validity of a brief scale to assess subjective prognosis of work capacity (SPE Scale) in a cohort of LVA insured patients with severe back pain or functional complaints relating to internal medicine].

Objectives: Vocational (dis-)ability is a central concept in social medicine. Beside from medical factors psychological and system factors play a crucial role in determining vocational disability. The development of instruments assessing the prognosis of gainful employment is an important task in rehabilitation research.