Facilities Available in European Hospitals Treating Stroke Patients

Abstract

Background and Purpose-Stroke units decrease mortality and need for institutional care, but they are not widely available. The objective of the study was to determine, among European hospitals admitting acute stroke patients, how many are able to provide an appropriate level of care. Method-We randomly selected 886 hospitals in 25 countries. We used definitions derived from a European expert survey for comprehensive stroke centers (CSC), primary stroke centers (PSC), and minimum level required for any hospital ward (AHW) admitting stroke patients. We determined the proportion of hospitals meeting criteria for each category, and which facilities were not available.

Effectiveness of Primary and Comprehensive Stroke Centers

“…Validated criteria are warranted, because Ͻ15% of European patients with stroke are treated in stroke centers. 25 Incorrect coding of stroke is a potential bias, but this rarely occurs in Finland. 10 Population-based verification rate (CT, MRI, angiography, or autopsy) for stroke is high (Ͼ98%).…”

Cost benefits of rapid recanalization using intraarterial thrombectomy

“…To increase the likelihood of rapid recanalization by IAT in patients with acute ischemic stroke, comprehensive stroke centers with experienced personnel should be established, where round‐the‐clock IAT is available. Even though the US and several European countries have established such centers (Gorelick, 2013; Leys, Ringelstein, Kaste, & Hacke, 2007), other countries face economic and expertise‐related limitations. Governments, including that of South Korea, should rapidly establish comprehensive stroke centers (Kim et al., 2014).…”

European Stroke Organisation Recommendations to Establish a Stroke Unit and Stroke Center

“…1,4,5 There is also sufficient evidence that the benefits seen in stroke unit trials are replicated in routine practice, as long as these evidence-based principles of organized stroke unit care are considered in daily routine. 6 Striking discrepancies in infrastructure and quality of stroke care, but also in costs and outcome, have been identified in Europe, 7,8 indicating the urgent need for a common and agreed concept of well-organized evidence-based stroke care in European countries, and for standardized, methodologically sound regional or national audits of stroke care. The limited access of acute stroke patients to adequate stroke unit care in Europe was alarming and still is in many countries.…”

“…The limited access of acute stroke patients to adequate stroke unit care in Europe was alarming and still is in many countries. [8][9][10] These studies underline the fact that there is still a great need to improve stroke care also in those countries which have already organized their own evaluation and certification of stroke units. Association.…”