Trends in clinical features and early outcome in patients with acute cardioembolic stroke subtype over a 19-year period

Objectives: To assess changing trends in clinical characteristics and early outcome of patients with acute cardioembolic stroke (ACS) over a 19-year period. Materials and Methods: Data of 575 patients with first-ever ACS included in the Sagrat Cor Hospital of Barcelona Stroke Registry were analyzed. Changing trends for 1986-1992, 1993-1998, and 1999-2004 periods were compared. Results: A statistically significant increase ( P P = 0.001) as were patients with diabetes, chronic bronchitis, and obesity (P = NS). The median length of hospital stay decreased from 18 to 12 days ( P = 0.031) and prolonged hospital stay (>12 days) from 18.3 to 13.1 ( P = 0.033). In-hospital death rate remained around 20%. Conclusions: ACS continues to be a severe ischemic stroke subtype with high risk of in-hospital death. The lack of improvement in the early prognosis over a 19-year period may be explained by an increase in the prevalence of major cardiovascular risk factors and progressive aging of the population.