Thrombocytopenia and in-hospital mortality risk among ischemic stroke patients.

Background: Thrombocytopenia has been associated with increased mortality in nonstroke conditions. Because its role in acute ischemic stroke is less well understood, we sought to determine whether thrombocytopenia at admission for acute ischemic stroke was associated with in-hospital mortality.

Methods: We used data from a retrospective cohort of stroke patients (1998-2003) at 5 U.

Anemia is associated with poor outcomes in patients with less severe ischemic stroke.

Anemia is a known predictor of in-hospital mortality among patients with such vascular conditions as acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. The role of anemia in patients with acute ischemic stroke is less well understood. We sought to examine the association between anemia at hospital admission and the combined outcome of in-hospital mortality and discharge to hospice in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of poststroke falls in acute hospital setting.

Falls are a serious medical complication following stroke. The objectives of this study were to (1) confirm the prevalence of falls among patients with stroke during acute hospitalization, (2) identify factors associated with falls during the acute stay, and (3) examine whether in-hospital falls were associated with loss of function after stroke (new dependence at discharge). We completed a secondary analysis of data from a retrospective cohort study of patients with ischemic stroke who were hospitalized at one of four hospitals.

Processes of care associated with acute stroke outcomes.

Background: Many processes of care have been proposed as metrics to evaluate stroke care. We sought to identify processes of stroke care that are associated with improved patient outcomes after adjustment for both patient characteristics and other process measures.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients 18 years or older with an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) onset no more than 2 days before admission and a neurologic deficit on admission.

Botulinum toxin a, evidence-based exercise therapy, and constraint-induced movement therapy for upper-limb hemiparesis attributable to stroke: a preliminary study.

Objective: To determine whether the combination of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) treatment for the upper limb and a 4-wk course of exercise therapy could improve motor function sufficiently to allow those with poststroke hemiparesis and spasticity to achieve the minimal motor criteria (MMC) to be enrolled in constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT), and to determine the feasibility of enrolling participants into CIMT if they meet MMC after treatment with a combination of BTX-A plus exercise therapy.

Design: Twelve individuals received BTX-A and exercise therapy for 1 hr/day, three times per week, for 4 wks. Those who met MMC were enrolled in 2 wks of CIMT, and the rest received a home exercise program.