Hospitalization for stroke in U.S. hospitals, 1989-2009.

Stroke remains one of the most significant U.S. health problems (6). Although the stroke hospitalization rate has declined, in 2009 there were still almost 1 million hospitalizations for stroke. Many stroke patients, upon discharge, went to another short-stay hospital or a long-term care institution. In addition, outpatient or in-home services (including rehabilitation) are often provided to those who have had a stroke, to prevent future strokes and to restore functioning (6,7). In 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced its "Million Hearts" campaign, which aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next 5 years (8). Efforts like this are especially important because the baby boomer population is aging into the years when strokes are more common. It is important to continue to track the number and rate of stroke hospitalizations, in order to gauge the effects of campaigns like Million Hearts as well as the effectiveness of provisions in health care legislation (including the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) that promote preventive care and coordination of care. All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.