The Vienna Stroke Registry--objectives and methodology. The Vienna Stroke Study Group.

The Vienna Stroke Registry (VSR) comprises nine neurological departments of Vienna and was established in 1998. This article describes the objectives and methodology of the VSR. The goals of the VSR are as follows: (1) to document the quality (structure, process, outcome) of medical services and to construct a database which can be used for future adjustment of medical services in Vienna (early stroke intervention, concept of stroke units, rehabilitation services); (2) to guide educational programs; (3) to adjust or establish algorithms for clinical decision making and to analyze predictors of outcome; (4) to document changes in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies over time; (5) to formulate hypotheses about the etiology, pathophysiology, clinical course, and outcome of stroke. Since October 1998 all patients with the presumed diagnosis of a transitory ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke who had been admitted to one of the participating centers within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms were included in the VSR. All patients are prospectively documented according to standardized detailed protocols. The collected data refer to demographic parameters; medical, particularly, vascular history; vascular risk factors; laboratory and technical investigations (including cerebrovascular, cardiological, and neuroradiological findings); details of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment; factors influencing the time from the onset of symptoms to hospital admission and the start of therapy; clinical and etiological classification according to pre-specified criteria; neurological and functional impairment at specified time points; structured follow-up investigations at 3, 12, and 24 months after the event. Until September 2000, 2300 patients had been included in the VSR. The target number of 3500 patients will be achieved in the second half of 2001. A baseline description of the VSR population will be given separately.