The impact of demographic factors on the course and outcome of stroke

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to answer the question, whether living in urban or suburban areas has an impact on disease course and outcome of stroke patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included patients with a diagnosed cerebrovascular disease treated in the Department of Neurology, Provincial Hospital in Czestochowa in 2004-2005. Data were obtained on the basis of a retrospective analysis of medical records. The assessment of the functional status of patients was based on the scale of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and the modified Rankin scale. RESULTS: The study included 294 patients (152 women, 142 men) hospitalized for a stroke. The mean age was 70.2 ± 13.2 years. Patients were divided into two groups, Group 1 living in suburban environment (n = 153, 52.0%), and Group 2--living in urban environment (n = 141, 48.0%). There were no statistically significant differences in age, sex, and type of stroke between the two groups. In Group 1, hospitalization time was longer (17.7 ± 13.5 days) compared with patients in Group 2--12.0 ± 10.2 days (p = 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the ADL scale between the two groups, both on admission and discharge. However, in the Rankin scale status of patients from urban areas was better on the day of admission (p = 0.005) and at discharge. Seizure onset of the disease, the presence of coronary artery disease and dyslipidemia had a strongest influence on the functional status of patients. Patients from both groups were discharged home with a similar frequency. CoNCLUSIONS: The study showns that there are slight differences in the course of the disease in patients from different backgrounds.