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ARTICLES:
G. Saposnik, A. Baibergenova, M. O'Donnell, M. D. Hill, M. K. Kapral, V. Hachinski On behalf of the Stroke Outcome Research Canada (SORCan) Working Group
Hospital volume and stroke outcome: Does it matter?
Neurology 2007; 69: 1142-1151
[Abstract][Full text][PDF]
Saposnik et al provide strong evidence that hospital volume generally predicts in-hospital mortality. [1] This begs the question whether in-hospital mortality is the best—or even a good— measure of stroke outcome. Did volume influence functional outcome or mortality at 3, 6, and 12 months?
Reference
1. Saposnik G, Baibergenova A, O’Donnell M, Hill MD, Kapral MK, V. Hachinski On behalf of the Stroke Outcome Research Canada (SORCan) Working Group. Hospital volume and stroke outcome. Neurology 2007; 0: 01.wnl.0000268485.93349.58v1
Disclosure: The author reports no conflicts of interest.
Reply from the authors
12 October 2007
Gustavo Saposnik, Assistant Professor in Medicine (Neurology) University of Toronto
We appreciate Dr. Gordon’s interest and comments regarding our recently published article. [1] Unfortunately, we have no information about functional or long-term outcomes. We are currently working to further analyze the impact of organized care on stroke outcomes at 7 days, 30 days and 1 year.
Disclosure: Dr. Gustavo Saposnik received supprt from Heart Stroke
Foundation Canada, the Canadian Institute for Health Research, Connaught
Foundation, and Department of Research at St. Michael Hospital. Dr.
Martin O'Donnell is supported by a grant from the CIHR. Dr. Moira Kapral
is supported by a New Investigator Award from the CIHR and also received
support from the Canadian Stroke Network and the University Health
Network Women's Health Program. Dr. Michael Hill is supported by the
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta/NWT/NU and the Canadian
Institutes for Health Research. These grants were obtained based on
competitive applications following publication of grant advertisements.
The investigators acted as the sponsors of the study. None of the
supporting agencies (HSFC, CSN, CIHR) had input on the design, access to
the data, analyses, interpretation, or publication of the study.