Case fatality rate ‎and disability of stroke in Isfahan, Iran: Isfahan stroke registry

Background: Few investigators have reported case fatality and disability of Iranian patients with stroke. This study was designed to collect morbidity and case fatality data of hospitalized patients with stroke, and stroke care quality in Isfahan, Iran. Methods: From 2006 to 2011, from overlapping sources (discharge diagnoses, attending physicians, and hospitalization wards), all hospitalized patients with possible strokes were enrolled in the study, their hospital records were summarized by experienced personnel and reviewed by a neurologist with stroke experience. Patients were followed by phone calls or visited to their addresses and their 28(th) day functional status was checked by translated modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Forms and methods were derived from the World Health Organization (WHO) Monitoring Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease and STEPS projects. Results: A total of 9487 patients were identified to suffer from stroke. Their ages’ mean was 68.98 ± 13.63 years, and 50.0% were females. In hospital, case fatality was 16.5% and the 28(th) day case fatality was 25.6%. The greatest case fatality was among intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients and the least among ischemic stroke (IS) ones. Case fatality was greater among female and older patients and those with the previous history of stroke. Among survivors, only 26.9% were functionally independent (mRS < 3) which was the greatest among subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients and least among ICH patients. None of the patients were admitted to specific stroke units or received thrombolytic therapy. Conclusion: The hospitalized patients with stroke in Isfahan have unfavorable outcome compared with their mates in developed countries. A low quality of stroke care may be responsible, and urgent attention is needed.