Shuhei Ikeda1, Kazuo Washida2, Tomotaka Tanaka3, Erika Kitajima4, Tetsuya Chiba5, Kazuki Fukuma6, Takeshi Yoshimoto7, Satoshi Saito8, Yorito Hattori9, Masafumi Ihara10. 1. Department of Neurology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address: ikeda.shuhei83@ncvc.go.jp. 2. Department of Neurology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address: washida@ncvc.go.jp. 3. Department of Neurology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address: tanakat@ncvc.go.jp. 4. Department of Medical Engineering, Faculty of Healthcare Sciences, Dokkyo University, Hyogo, Japan. Electronic address: k_erika@gm.himeji-du.ac.jp. 5. Department of Neurology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address: chiba.tetsuya@ncvc.go.jp. 6. Department of Neurology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address: kazblues77@ncvc.go.jp. 7. Department of Neurology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address: yoshimototakeshi1982@ncvc.go.jp. 8. Department of Neurology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address: Satoshi.Saito@soton.ac.uk. 9. Department of Neurology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address: yoh2019@ncvc.go.jp. 10. Department of Neurology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address: ihara@ncvc.go.jp.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Post-stroke complications affect stroke survivors across the world, although data on them are limited. We conducted a questionnaire survey to examine the real-world state and issues regarding post-stroke complications in Japan, which represents a super-aged society. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 2018, a nationwide multi-center questionnaire survey was conducted in the top 500 Japanese hospitals regarding the number of stroke patients treated. Three questionnaires regarding post-stroke complications were mailed to the doctors responsible for stroke management. RESULTS: Responses were obtained from 251 hospitals (50.2%). The chief doctors responsible for stroke management answered the questionnaires. The number of stroke patients in the departments of neurology and neurosurgery was 338.3 ± 195.3 and 295.8 ± 121.8. Hospitals were classified using the categories secondary (n =142) and tertiary hospitals (n = 106); most hospitals were acute hospitals. Dementia was the most common complication (30.9%), followed by dysphagia (29.3%), and apathy (16.3%). Dementia was thought to be more common by neurologists than neurosurgeons, while apathy and bladder-rectal disorder were thought to be more common by neurosurgeons than neurologists (p = 0.001). The most difficult complication to treat was dysphagia (40.4%), followed by dementia (33.9%), epilepsy (4.1%), and fall (4.1%). Dementia was considered to lack clinical evidence regarding treatment (32.8%), followed by dysphagia (25.3%), and epilepsy (14.1%). Epilepsy was considered to lack clinical evidence among hospitals with a larger number of stroke cases (p = 0.044). CONCLUSION: This study revealed the current state and issues regarding post-stroke complications in Japan. Clinicians should be aware of the importance of post-stroke complications, although data on them remain unsatisfactory.
OBJECTIVES: Post-stroke complications affect stroke survivors across the world, although data on them are limited. We conducted a questionnaire survey to examine the real-world state and issues regarding post-stroke complications in Japan, which represents a super-aged society. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 2018, a nationwide multi-center questionnaire survey was conducted in the top 500 Japanese hospitals regarding the number of strokepatients treated. Three questionnaires regarding post-stroke complications were mailed to the doctors responsible for stroke management. RESULTS: Responses were obtained from 251 hospitals (50.2%). The chief doctors responsible for stroke management answered the questionnaires. The number of strokepatients in the departments of neurology and neurosurgery was 338.3 ± 195.3 and 295.8 ± 121.8. Hospitals were classified using the categories secondary (n =142) and tertiary hospitals (n = 106); most hospitals were acute hospitals. Dementia was the most common complication (30.9%), followed by dysphagia (29.3%), and apathy (16.3%). Dementia was thought to be more common by neurologists than neurosurgeons, while apathy and bladder-rectal disorder were thought to be more common by neurosurgeons than neurologists (p = 0.001). The most difficult complication to treat was dysphagia (40.4%), followed by dementia (33.9%), epilepsy (4.1%), and fall (4.1%). Dementia was considered to lack clinical evidence regarding treatment (32.8%), followed by dysphagia (25.3%), and epilepsy (14.1%). Epilepsy was considered to lack clinical evidence among hospitals with a larger number of stroke cases (p = 0.044). CONCLUSION: This study revealed the current state and issues regarding post-stroke complications in Japan. Clinicians should be aware of the importance of post-stroke complications, although data on them remain unsatisfactory.