Stroke-related mortality in a tertiary care hospital in Andalusia: Analysis and reflections. / Mortalidad asociada al ictus en un hospital andaluz de tercer nivel. Análisis y reflexiones.

OBJECTIVES: Stroke is a very common cause of death, especially in southern Spain. The present study analyses in-hospital mortality associated with stroke in an Andalusian tertiary care hospital. METHODS: We gathered the files of all patients who had died at Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves in Granada in 2013 and whose death certificates indicated stroke as the cause of death. We also gathered stroke patients discharge data and compared them to that of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). RESULTS: A total of 825 patients had a diagnosis of stroke (96 deaths, 11.6%); of these, 562 had ischaemic stroke (44 deaths, 7.8%) and 263 haemorrhagic stroke (52 deaths, 19.7%). Patients with haemorrhagic stroke therefore showed greater mortality rate (OR=2.9). Patients in this group died after a shorter time in hospital (median, 4 vs 7 days; mean, 6 days). However, patients with ischaemic stroke were older and presented with more comorbidities. On the other hand, 617 patients had a diagnosis of ACS (36 deaths, 5.8%). The mortality odds ratio (MOR) was 2.1 (stroke/SCA). Around 23% of the patients who died from stroke were taking anticoagulants. 60% of the deceased patients with ischaemic stroke and 20% of those with haemorrhagic stroke had atrial fibrillation (AF); 35% of the patients with ischaemic stroke and AF were taking anticoagulants. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke is associated with higher admission and in-hospital mortality rates than SCA. Likewise, patients with haemorrhagic stroke showed higher mortality rates than those with ischaemic stroke. Patients with fatal stroke usually had a history of long-term treatment with anticoagulants; 2 thirds of the patients with fatal ischaemic stroke and atrial fibrillation were not receiving anticoagulants. According to our results, optimising prevention in patients with AF may have a positive impact on stroke-related in-hospital mortality.

Normative data for the Fototest from neurological patients with no cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVES: To contribute normative data for the Fototest from neurological patients with no cognitive impairment, including disaggregated data on each domain of the test (naming, free recall, total recall, and naming fluency). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study in which neurological patients with no cognitive impairment were tested with the Fototest; we recorded total and domain scores. We performed a descriptive study of the total and domain scores, with data disaggregated by sex, age (over/under 65 years), and level of education (primary education completed/not completed; further study completed). RESULTS: We included a sample of 1055 patients, who were mainly women (57.1%), aged over 65 (60.6%), and had a low level of education (38.6% had not completed primary education). Sex, age, and level of education influence total Fototest score (34.6 ±â€¯5.3; P10: 28; P5: 27) and free recall (8.5 ±â€¯2.2; 6; 4), total recall (10.0 ±â€¯1.5; 8; 7), and naming fluency scores (18.7 ±â€¯4.9; 13; 12). For total score, the multivariate analysis revealed values of 1.5 ±â€¯0.3 (ß ±â€¯SD) for sex (female), -2.4 ±â€¯0.3 for age (>65), and -1.6 ±â€¯0.4 and 3.3 ±â€¯0.4 for incomplete primary education and completed post-primary education, respectively (completed primary study was used as a reference). CONCLUSIONS: We provide normative data for total and domain Fototest results for each of the groups defined according to sex, age, and level of education. We also provide a percentile distribution of scores. We hope that these normative data will translate into increases in efficiency in Fototest administration in the clinical setting.

Normative data for the Fototest from neurological patients with no cognitive impairment. / Valores normativos del Fototest en pacientes neurológicos sin deterioro cognitivo.

OBJECTIVES: To contribute normative data for the Fototest from neurological patients with no cognitive impairment, including disaggregated data on each domain of the test (naming, free recall, total recall, and naming fluency). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study in which neurological patients with no cognitive impairment were tested with the Fototest; we recorded total and domain scores. We performed a descriptive study of the total and domain scores, with data disaggregated by sex, age (over/under 65 years), and level of education (primary education completed/not completed; further study completed). RESULTS: We included a sample of 1,055 patients, who were mainly women (57.1%), aged over 65 (60.6%), and had a low level of education (38.6% had not completed primary education). Sex, age, and level of education influence total Fototest score (34.6 ± 5.3; P10: 28; P5: 27) and naming (5,9±0,3; 6; 5), free recall (8.5 ± 2.2; 6; 4), total recall (10.0 ± 1.5; 8; 7), and naming fluency scores (18.7 ± 4.9; 13; 12). For total score, the multivariate analysis revealed values of 1.5 ± 0.3 (ß ± SE) for sex (female), -2.4 ± 0.3 for age (> 65), and -1.6 ± 0.4 and 3.3 ± 0.4 for incomplete primary education and completed post-primary education, respectively (completed primary study was used as a reference). CONCLUSION: We provide normative data for total and domain Fototest results for each of the groups defined according to sex, age, and level of education. We also provide a percentile distribution of scores. We hope that these normative data will translate into increases in efficiency in Fototest administration in the clinical setting.