BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This prospective, multicenter study was performed to determine the frequency of symptomatic complications up to 30 months after stroke using prespecified definitions of complications. METHODS: We recruited 311 consecutive stroke patients admitted to hospital. Research nurses reviewed their progress on a weekly basis until hospital discharge and again at 6, 18, and 30 months after stroke. RESULTS: Complications during hospital admission were recorded in 265 (85%) of stroke patients. Specific complications were as follows: neurological-recurrent stroke (9% of patients), epileptic seizure (3%); infections-urinary tract infection (24%), chest infection (22%), others (19%); mobility related-falls (25%), falls with serious injury (5%), pressure sores (21%); thromboembolism-deep venous thrombosis (2%), pulmonary embolism (1%); pain-shoulder pain (9%), other pain (34%); and psychological-depression (16%), anxiety (14%), emotionalism (12%), and confusion (56%). During follow-up, infections, falls, "blackouts, " pain, and symptoms of depression and anxiety remained common. Complications were observed across all 3 hospital sites, and their frequency was related to patient dependency and duration after stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Our prospective cohort study has confirmed that poststroke complications, particularly infections and falls, are common. However, we have also identified complications relating to pain and cognitive or affective symptoms that are potentially preventable and may previously have been underestimated.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This prospective, multicenter study was performed to determine the frequency of symptomatic complications up to 30 months after stroke using prespecified definitions of complications. METHODS: We recruited 311 consecutive strokepatients admitted to hospital. Research nurses reviewed their progress on a weekly basis until hospital discharge and again at 6, 18, and 30 months after stroke. RESULTS: Complications during hospital admission were recorded in 265 (85%) of strokepatients. Specific complications were as follows: neurological-recurrent stroke (9% of patients), epilepticseizure (3%); infections-urinary tract infection (24%), chest infection (22%), others (19%); mobility related-falls (25%), falls with serious injury (5%), pressure sores (21%); thromboembolism-deep venous thrombosis (2%), pulmonary embolism (1%); pain-shoulder pain (9%), other pain (34%); and psychological-depression (16%), anxiety (14%), emotionalism (12%), and confusion (56%). During follow-up, infections, falls, "blackouts, " pain, and symptoms of depression and anxiety remained common. Complications were observed across all 3 hospital sites, and their frequency was related to patient dependency and duration after stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Our prospective cohort study has confirmed that poststroke complications, particularly infections and falls, are common. However, we have also identified complications relating to pain and cognitive or affective symptoms that are potentially preventable and may previously have been underestimated.
Authors: Mitchell S V Elkind; Jorge M Luna; Leslie A McClure; Yu Zhang; Christopher S Coffey; Ana Roldan; Oscar H Del Brutto; Edwin Javier Pretell; L Creed Pettigrew; Brett C Meyer; Jorge Tapia; Carole White; Oscar R Benavente Journal: Stroke Date: 2014-02-12 Impact factor: 7.914
Authors: Dragana Stanley; Linda J Mason; Kate E Mackin; Yogitha N Srikhanta; Dena Lyras; Monica D Prakash; Kulmira Nurgali; Andres Venegas; Michael D Hill; Robert J Moore; Connie H Y Wong Journal: Nat Med Date: 2016-10-03 Impact factor: 53.440
Authors: Wai Kwong Tang; Sandra S M Chan; Helen F K Chiu; Gabor S Ungvari; Ka Sing Wong; Timothy C Y Kwok Journal: J Neurol Date: 2004-07 Impact factor: 4.849