Acute Stroke in northern Portugal: outcomes and characteristics of patients in a Medical-Surgical Emergency Department

Introduction: Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and long-term disability worldwide, significantly impacting health systems and personal lives. Disparities in European access to stroke care suggest an increased burden on individuals and society. Effective management of acute stroke in emergency...

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Main Authors: Sandra Domingues, Tiago Barros, João Correia, Arlindo Cruz, Nuno Araújo, Liliana Silva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto Politécnico de Viseu 2025-01-01
Series:Millenium
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Online Access:https://revistas.rcaap.pt/millenium/article/view/36532
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author Sandra Domingues
Tiago Barros
João Correia
Arlindo Cruz
Nuno Araújo
Liliana Silva
author_facet Sandra Domingues
Tiago Barros
João Correia
Arlindo Cruz
Nuno Araújo
Liliana Silva
author_sort Sandra Domingues
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and long-term disability worldwide, significantly impacting health systems and personal lives. Disparities in European access to stroke care suggest an increased burden on individuals and society. Effective management of acute stroke in emergency departments is critical, requiring a rapid and coordinated response to optimize clinical outcomes. Objective: Characterize the hospital approach to acute stroke patients attended through the Stroke Pathway (Via Verde AVC) protocol in a Medical-Surgical Emergency Department in northern Portugal. Methods: Retrospective observational study of 1153 patients admitted through the Acute Stroke Care Pathway from 2019 to 2023. Data on patient demographics, clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes were collected from electronic medical records. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis tests, trend analysis, and logistic regression. Results: Stroke Pathway activations increased from 0.28% in 2019 to 0.31% in 2023 (p<0.05). Ischemic stroke was most common (64.8%, 95% CI: 62.1-67.4%). Thrombolysis rates increased from 21.96% to 27.27% (p<0.01), and thrombectomy from 4.67% to 21.21% (p<0.001). Age >70 years (OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.3-2.5) and arrival within 3 hours (OR 2.3, 95% CI: 1.7-3.1) predicted reperfusion therapy. Female patients surpassed males in 2023 (51.01% vs 48.99%). Conclusion: The Emergency Department demonstrated improvement in acute stroke care. Enhanced systematic data recording and new technologies are needed to optimize care. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes and quality-of-life measures.
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spelling doaj-art-fb7e27f3b0a442e4b7ffc0fc3598d4282025-01-18T09:53:47ZengInstituto Politécnico de ViseuMillenium0873-30151647-662X2025-01-012610.29352/mill0226.36532Acute Stroke in northern Portugal: outcomes and characteristics of patients in a Medical-Surgical Emergency DepartmentSandra Domingues0Tiago Barros1João Correia2Arlindo Cruz3Nuno Araújo4Liliana Silva5Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos, Matosinhos, PortugalUnidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos, Matosinhos, PortugalUnidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos, Matosinhos, PortugalUnidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos, Matosinhos, PortugalCooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário (CESPU), Gandra, PortugalUnidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos, Matosinhos, Portugal | Tecnologias para a Educação e Simulação na Saúde (Tech4edusim), Porto, Portugal | Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias e Serviços de Saúde (CINTESIS), Porto, Portugal Introduction: Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and long-term disability worldwide, significantly impacting health systems and personal lives. Disparities in European access to stroke care suggest an increased burden on individuals and society. Effective management of acute stroke in emergency departments is critical, requiring a rapid and coordinated response to optimize clinical outcomes. Objective: Characterize the hospital approach to acute stroke patients attended through the Stroke Pathway (Via Verde AVC) protocol in a Medical-Surgical Emergency Department in northern Portugal. Methods: Retrospective observational study of 1153 patients admitted through the Acute Stroke Care Pathway from 2019 to 2023. Data on patient demographics, clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes were collected from electronic medical records. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis tests, trend analysis, and logistic regression. Results: Stroke Pathway activations increased from 0.28% in 2019 to 0.31% in 2023 (p<0.05). Ischemic stroke was most common (64.8%, 95% CI: 62.1-67.4%). Thrombolysis rates increased from 21.96% to 27.27% (p<0.01), and thrombectomy from 4.67% to 21.21% (p<0.001). Age >70 years (OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.3-2.5) and arrival within 3 hours (OR 2.3, 95% CI: 1.7-3.1) predicted reperfusion therapy. Female patients surpassed males in 2023 (51.01% vs 48.99%). Conclusion: The Emergency Department demonstrated improvement in acute stroke care. Enhanced systematic data recording and new technologies are needed to optimize care. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes and quality-of-life measures. https://revistas.rcaap.pt/millenium/article/view/36532Stroke; Emergency Service; health care; Acute Stroke Treatment Protocol; quality of health care
spellingShingle Sandra Domingues
Tiago Barros
João Correia
Arlindo Cruz
Nuno Araújo
Liliana Silva
Acute Stroke in northern Portugal: outcomes and characteristics of patients in a Medical-Surgical Emergency Department
Millenium
Stroke; Emergency Service; health care; Acute Stroke Treatment Protocol; quality of health care
title Acute Stroke in northern Portugal: outcomes and characteristics of patients in a Medical-Surgical Emergency Department
title_full Acute Stroke in northern Portugal: outcomes and characteristics of patients in a Medical-Surgical Emergency Department
title_fullStr Acute Stroke in northern Portugal: outcomes and characteristics of patients in a Medical-Surgical Emergency Department
title_full_unstemmed Acute Stroke in northern Portugal: outcomes and characteristics of patients in a Medical-Surgical Emergency Department
title_short Acute Stroke in northern Portugal: outcomes and characteristics of patients in a Medical-Surgical Emergency Department
title_sort acute stroke in northern portugal outcomes and characteristics of patients in a medical surgical emergency department
topic Stroke; Emergency Service; health care; Acute Stroke Treatment Protocol; quality of health care
url https://revistas.rcaap.pt/millenium/article/view/36532
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