Abstract T P271: Establishment of Stroke Ward Results in Immediate Reduction of Major Complications

Background and Purpose: Randomized controlled trials have consistently shown that stroke units decrease both mortality and morbidity compared with conventional care in general medical wards. There are however limited data on the specific types of in-hospital medical complications and their effect on outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine whether establishing a specialized geographically defined Stroke Ward results in reducing the major complications in patients suffering from acute stroke within the same hospital system. Methods: This is a prospective study from January 2014 till July 2014. Data was collected from a web-based stroke registry in two phases. In phase 1 (from January 1, 2014 till March 08, 2014), we collected data of stroke patients admitted at in the medical wards. In phase 2, a protocol-based multidisciplinary care Stroke Ward became operational where most of the patients were admitted. Outcomes measures were number and type of complications, mortality, discharge dispositio...