Impact of Stroke Unit Care on Acute Stroke Outcomes

Conditions

• Acute Stroke
• Hemorrhagic Stroke
• Ischemic Stroke

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Study Details

This observational study is designed to evaluate and compare the recovery outcomes of patients who have experienced their first acute stroke. Specifically, it looks at how receiving care in a specialized Stroke Unit compares to receiving care in a conventional hospital neurology ward. Researchers will observe 140 adult patients admitted to Assiut University Hospital within 48 hours of their stroke symptoms starting. Patients will be observed in two distinct groups of 70 based on their admission setting: * Stroke Unit Care: Patients in this group receive care from a specialized, multi-professional team (including vascular neurologists, stroke nurses, neuro-physiotherapists, and clinical pharmacists). They undergo continuous heart and vital sign monitoring for the first 24 to 48 hours, participate in early physical activity protocols, and follow strict guidelines for swallowing checks, temperature control, and blood sugar management. * Conventional Ward Care: Patients in this group receive standard medical care and general nursing management. Their vital signs are checked during routine shifts, and physical therapy is provided only when specifically requested on a case-by-case basis. The study will track the patients' progress by measuring their independence in daily activities, physical disability levels, and cognitive (thinking) skills. Assessments will happen when they are discharged from the hospital, and then again at 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months after they go home to evaluate their overall recovery, complications, and mortality rates.

Key Dates

First listed

Aug 6, 2026

Start date

Sep 30, 2026

Status verified

Aug 2026

Primary completion

Sep 30, 2027

Completion

Oct 31, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment

140 participants (estimated)

Arms

• Arm: Dedicated Stroke Unit (SU) Care
  Patients admitted to the stroke unit for acute stroke management. Core interventions include care managed by a specialized multi-professional team consisting of vascular neurologists, specialized stroke nurses, neuro-physiotherapists, and clinical pharmacists. Care also involves continuous non-invasive cardiac, telemetry, and hemodynamic tracking for at least the initial 24-48 hours, evidence-based early mobilization protocols, and standardized integrated clinical pathways focusing on early dysphagia screening, rapid glycemic control, and strict normothermia management.
• Arm: Conventional Ward Care
  Patients confirmed to have an acute stroke who are admitted directly to neurology wards for acute stroke management. Care components include standard medical workup, generalized nursing management, and intermittent monitoring of vital signs dictated by routine ward shift protocols. On-call or scheduled consultations from physical therapy are requested on an ad-hoc, case-by-case basis.

Primary Outcome Measure

Degree of Functional Dependence Using the Barthel Index [ Time Frame: Baseline (on admission) ]

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