Delays in hospital admission and investigation in acute stroke
BMJ 1995; 311 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.311.6998.162 (Published 15 July 1995) Cite this as: BMJ 1995;311:162
- Neil E Anderson, neurologista,
- Joanna B Broad, masonic research analystb,
- Ruth Bonita, senior research fellowb
- aAuckland Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
- bSection of Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine, Auckland
- bCorrespondence to: Dr Ruth Bonita, University Geriatric Unit, Department of Medicine, North Shore Hospital, Private Bag 93-503, Auckland 9, New Zealand.
- Accepted 2 June 1995
Delays in admission to hospital and investigation hinder recruitment into trials of acute stroke management. It is therefore important to determine the factors impeding recruitment in stroke trials. The interval between the onset of symptoms and completion of brain computed tomography during a population based study of stroke provided an estimate of the number of patients with stroke who would be suitable for recruitment in clinical trials.
Subjects, methods, and results
All new stroke events occurring in Auckland residents (total population 945000) over 12 months were identified. Definitions, sampling, and case finding methods have been reported.1 2 Stroke events were classified into four categories—subarachnoid haemorrhage, intracerebral haemorrhage, ischaemic stroke, and undefined stroke (symptoms and signs of stroke but no computed tomogram or necropsy report available). The time of onset of stroke was defined as the time when the patient or an observer first noted neurological symptoms or signs. When symptoms were first noticed on awakening the time of awakening was …