Where and how should elderly stroke patients be treated?

Completed

Phase N/A Results

Trial Description

To study the effects of the department care (medicine versus neurology) on the outcome of elderly stroke patients.

Interventions

Trial Design

Randomized, controlled trial of 243 patients at a single center.

Patient Involvement

Patients were randomized to receive care in the Department of Neurology or the Department of Medicine. Patients in the Department of Neurology received standardized acute care and rehabilitation facilitated by a stroke team. Patients in the Department of Medicine did not receive care from a stroke team. Care of these patients was not standardized and did not necessarily include rehabilitation.

Outcomes

Type Measure Time Frame Safety Issue
Primary Mortality, length of hospital stay, ability to live at home on discharge, Barthel Index, and Rankin grades at 1 year.

Sponsors

Helsinki University Central Hospital Research and Development Funds, the Paavo Nurmi Foundation, and the Miina Sillanpää Foundation, Helsinki, Finland