Objective: To investigate the early therapeutic effect of stroke unit on cerebral infarction patients.
Methods: 285 of acute cerebral infarction were admitted into our department from December 2001 to January 2003. All the patients were assigned either into stroke unit (SU) or general ward (GW) randomly to receive treatment and the data of the patients of the two groups were compared. The key indexes recorded were mortality and hospitalization time and other aprameters observed were Barthel Index (BI), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Oxford Handicap Scale (OHS). All the patients or their family members were asked to have the Visual Analogue Scales (VAS), which reflects patient satisfaction, at the time of discharge. All these data, incorporated with cost and effect, were analyzed with SPSS soft packs.
Results: There was no statistical difference between the two groups, but the mean gap scores between the day of admission and discharge demonstrated significant difference (P < 0.01) in BI (SU 21.01 +/- 24.4, GW 8.49 +/- 22.39), NIHSS (SU -2.53 +/- 5.73, GW 0.27 +/- 6.80) or OHS (SU -0.79 +/- 0.95, GW -0.23 +/- 0.97). Mortality rate was less (P < 0.05) and patient satisfaction higher in SU than in GW (P < 0.01). The ratio of rehabilitation was higher (P < 0.01) and complications less in SU than in GW (P < 0.01). Moreover, the cost of hospitalization was less in SU.
Conclusion: For cerebral infarction patients, SU is able to improve the daily activities in early stage, reduce neurological defects and restore social abilities with less expenses.