{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.06284760845383759, 'fraction_numerical': 0.054505005561735265, 'mean_word_length': 5.224913494809688, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
In-Hospital Medical Complications, Length of Stay, and Mortality Among Stroke Unit Patients

Background and Purpose— The relationship between in-hospital stroke-related medical complications and clinical outcome remains unclear. We examined whether medical complications were associated with length of stay (LOS) and mortality among stroke unit patients. Methods— Using population-based Danish medical registries, we performed a follow-up study among all patients with acute stroke admitted to stroke units in 2 counties between 2003 and 2009 (n=13 721). Data regarding in-hospital medical complications, including pneumonia, urinary tract infection, pressure ulcer, falls, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and severe constipation together with LOS and mortality were prospectively registered. Results— Overall, 25.2% of patients (n=3453) experienced 1 or more medical complications during hospitalization. The most common complications were urinary tract infection (15.4%), pneumonia (9.0%), and constipation (6.8%). Median LOS was 13 days (25th and 75th quartiles, 5 and 33). All medical complications were associated with longer LOS. The adjusted relative LOS extension ranged from 1.80 (95% CI, 1.54–2.11) for pneumonia to 3.06 (95% CI, 2.67–3.52) for falls. Patients with 1 or more complications had an increased 1-year mortality rate (adjusted mortality rate ratio [MRR], 1.20; 95% CI, 1.04–1.39). The association was mainly because of pneumonia, which was associated with higher mortality both after 30 days (adjusted MRR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.31–1.93) and 1 year (adjusted MRR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.45–2.14). Conclusions— In-hospital medical complications were associated with longer LOS and some, in particular pneumonia, also with an increased mortality among patients with acute stroke.