Skip to main content
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1992 May;55(5):347–351. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.55.5.347

Predicting the outcome of acute stroke: prospective evaluation of five multivariate models and comparison with simple methods.

J R Gladman 1, D M Harwood 1, D H Barer 1
PMCID: PMC489073  PMID: 1602306

Abstract

Five multivariate models designed to predict the outcome of stroke were tested prospectively on 102 consecutive stroke patients admitted to a district general hospital. The results were compared with predictions made using two simple clinical variables (the conscious level on admission and the state of urinary continence at four weeks). Of the three models (developed in Belfast, Guy's Hospital and Uppsala) intended for use in the acute stages of stroke the last two were slightly more accurate in their prediction of death (75%) than was the admission conscious level alone (65%), whereas the Belfast model had an accuracy of only 50% in this situation. At a later stage, the state of urinary continence predicted good and poor outcomes with similar accuracy to that of a multivariate model from Edinburgh. A model developed in Bristol performed poorly. When tested prospectively, these multivariate models proved considerably less accurate than when they were first described. Only the Uppsala model showed any advantage over simple clinical methods. This might be of value in defining prognostic strata for clinical studies, but not in the management of individual patients. Simple clinical variables thus offer as much to clinicians as complex multivariate models.

Full text

PDF
350

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Albert M. L. A simple test of visual neglect. Neurology. 1973 Jun;23(6):658–664. doi: 10.1212/wnl.23.6.658. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Allen C. M. Predicting outcome after acute stroke: role of computerised tomography. Lancet. 1984 Aug 25;2(8400):464–465. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(84)92939-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Allen C. M. Predicting the outcome of acute stroke: a prognostic score. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1984 May;47(5):475–480. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.47.5.475. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Barer D. H. Continence after stroke: useful predictor or goal of therapy? Age Ageing. 1989 May;18(3):183–191. doi: 10.1093/ageing/18.3.183. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Barer D. H., Mitchell J. R. Predicting the outcome of acute stroke: do multivariate models help? Q J Med. 1989 Jan;70(261):27–39. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Collin C., Wade D. T., Davies S., Horne V. The Barthel ADL Index: a reliability study. Int Disabil Stud. 1988;10(2):61–63. doi: 10.3109/09638288809164103. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Frithz G., Werner I. Studies on cerebrovascular strokes. II. Clinical findings and short-term prognosis in a stroke material. Acta Med Scand. 1976;199(1-2):133–140. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Fullerton K. J., Mackenzie G., Stout R. W. Prognostic indices in stroke. Q J Med. 1988 Feb;66(250):147–162. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Hodkinson H. M. Evaluation of a mental test score for assessment of mental impairment in the elderly. Age Ageing. 1972 Nov;1(4):233–238. doi: 10.1093/ageing/1.4.233. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. MAHONEY F. I., BARTHEL D. W. FUNCTIONAL EVALUATION: THE BARTHEL INDEX. Md State Med J. 1965 Feb;14:61–65. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Prescott R. J., Garraway W. M., Akhtar A. J. Predicting functional outcome following acute stroke using a standard clinical examination. Stroke. 1982 Sep-Oct;13(5):641–647. doi: 10.1161/01.str.13.5.641. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. RANKIN J. Cerebral vascular accidents in patients over the age of 60. II. Prognosis. Scott Med J. 1957 May;2(5):200–215. doi: 10.1177/003693305700200504. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Wade D. T., Hewer R. L. Outlook after an acute stroke: urinary incontinence and loss of consciousness compared in 532 patients. Q J Med. 1985 Sep;56(221):601–608. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Wade D. T., Skilbeck C. E., Hewer R. L. Predicting Barthel ADL score at 6 months after an acute stroke. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1983 Jan;64(1):24–28. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES