Models and Actual Status of Stroke Unit Services in Developed Countries

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 27(3); 2009 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2009;27(3): 195-205.

선진국의 뇌졸중집중치료서비스 모형과 실제

이원용, 배희준

중앙대학교 예방의학교실, 서울대학교 의과대학 분당서울대학병원 신경과a

Models and Actual Status of Stroke Unit Services in Developed Countries

Weon Young Lee

Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea Department of Neurologya, Stroke Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea

Abstract

Background: It has been reported that organized inpatient (stroke unit) care reduces the mortality rate, and the need for institutional care or dependent living after stroke. Based on this evidence, stroke units have becomes popular among large-scale hospitals in developed countries. The aim of this study was to provide perspective regarding the efficacy of stroke units and their current status in developed countries. Methods and
Results: An electronic search was conducted using the Cochrane Database, PubMed, and other online databases, in addition to a manual search. The efficacy of stroke-unit care compared to general-ward care was summarized and is presented with respect to death, death or institutional care, and death or dependency by the end of the scheduled follow-up. Current concepts and the status of stroke-unit services among developed countries were reviewed and compared with each other. The desirable models of stroke-unit services are discussed in terms of the stroke center.
Conclusions: Stroke is the second leading cause of death in Korea and there that stroke-unit care is effective at improving the outcome of stroke patients. The expeditious development and realization of organized inpatient care for stroke victims should be a Government priority. Key Words: Stroke Unit, Organized Inpatient Care