Patient-reported factors associated with early arrival for stroke treatment.

Objective: Timely evaluation and initiation of treatment is the key for improving stroke outcomes, although minimizing the time from symptom onset to the first contact with healthcare professionals remains a challenge. We aimed to identify patient-related factors associated with early hospital arrival.

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, we included patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack admitted directly to one of two noncomprehensive stroke units or transferred to the units from comprehensive stroke centers in the Capital Region of Denmark.

Prevention after stroke: A quality assurance study.

Objectives: In 1997, the Copenhagen Stroke Study revealed that stroke was recurrent in 23% of patients admitted with a stroke. Predictors of recurrence were history of transient ischaemic attack, atrial fibrillation, male gender and hypertension. In 2011, the Danish recurrence rate was 25%.

A Qualitative Inquiry Into Patient Reported Factors That Influence Time From Stroke Symptom Onset to Hospitalization.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 50% of Danish stroke patients did not arrive within the 4.5-hour revascularization window in 2018, and only 20% received acute revascularization therapy. Delay in seeking help was a major factor for missing the time window.

Specific antismoking advice after stroke.

Introduction: Many stroke survivors would benefit from modification of their lifestyle in order to reduce their risk of recurrent stroke. We investigated if tailored smoking cessation advice would yield a higher smoking cessation rate and a higher rate with sustained abstinence in ex-smokers in the intervention group than among controls.

Material And Methods: Patients admitted with an acute stroke or a transient ischaemic attack were included in a randomised controlled trial focusing on control of lifestyle risk factors and hypertension.

Occurrence and severity of agitated behavior after severe traumatic brain injury.

Purpose: To investigate the occurrence and severity of agitation in patients after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), to identify predictors of agitation and to study interrater reliability for a translated version of the Agitated Behavior Scale (ABS).

Design: Prospective observational study. From November 1, 2006, through October 2007, 46 consecutive patients with TBI were included in the early rehabilitation phase following neurosurgical intervention.

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: symptom-triggered versus fixed-schedule treatment in an outpatient setting.

Aims: To investigate whether, in the treatment with chlordiazepoxide for outpatient alcohol withdrawal, there are advantages of symptom-triggered self-medication over a fixed-schedule regimen.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial in outpatient clinics for people suffering from alcohol dependence (AD) and alcohol-related problems; 165 adult patients in an outpatient setting in a specialized alcohol treatment unit were randomized 1:1 to either a symptom-triggered self-medication or tapered dose, using chlordiazepoxide. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms, amount of medication, duration of symptoms, time to relapse and patient satisfaction were measured.

Blood pressure 1 year after stroke: the need to optimize secondary prevention.

Lowering blood pressure (BP) in stroke survivors reduces the risk of recurrent stroke. We tested the hypothesis that a nurse-led nonpharmacologic intervention would lower the BP of participants in an intervention group compared with a control group. A total of 349 patients who had sustained acute stroke or transient ischemic attack were randomly assigned to either usual care or to 4 home visits by a nurse.

A psychometric validation of the Short Alcohol Withdrawal Scale (SAWS).

Aims: The study aimed to evaluate psychometrically a Danish translation of the Short Alcohol Withdrawal Scale (SAWS) in an outpatient setting in patients with Alcohol Dependence (AD) and Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms/Syndrome (AWS).

Methods: One hundred and twenty-two patients with AD and AWS filled in a 10-item rating scale to describe their symptoms with four graduations on five physical and five psychological items. The question of dimensionality of the construct was addressed in three different ways.

Little change of modifiable risk factors 1 year after stroke: a pilot study.

Background: Recurrent stroke accounts for about 25% of admissions for acute stroke. For the prevention of recurrent cerebro and cardiovascular disease, stroke patients are advised to change modifiable stroke risk factors before discharge from stroke units.

Aims: To investigate the change in modifiable risk factors 1 year after stroke and to explore the feasibility of a preventive programme aimed at stroke patients discharged from hospital.