Hospital Stays for Stroke and Other Cerebrovascular Diseases, 2005. Statistical Brief No. 51

摘要

Acute cerebrovascular disease, or stroke, was the third-leading cause of death for Americans and the leading cause of disability in 2005. A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is hindered by either a blood clot that obstructs an artery in the brain (called an ischemic stroke), or a blood vessel in the brain that breaks (called a hemorrhagic stroke). Other cerebrovascular diseases such as transient cerebral ischemia (involving stroke symptoms that last less that 24 hours, sometimes called a mini-stroke) and occlusion or stenosis of the precerebral arteries (a blockage or narrowing of the arteries outside the brain, e.g. carotid arteries in the neck) may indicate that a stroke will occur in the future. Strokes can limit the amount of oxygen the affected part of the brain receives, killing brain cells and potentially leading to brain damage. Depending on the area of the brain affected and extent of harm, minor to debilitating physical and psychological disabilities can occur, including paralysis, speech difficulties, and cognitive issues. An estimated two-thirds of survivors of stroke will experience some type of disability as a result of their stroke. This Statistical Brief presents data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) on the hospital treatment of stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases in 2005. The usage and expense of hospital stays for cerebrovascular disease are compared with hospital stays for all conditions. Additionally, the most common types of cerebrovascular diseases resulting in hospital admission are described, and trends in hospitalization rates (from 1997 through 2005) for each type are presented. Variations in hospital utilization across the types of cerebrovascular diseases are illustrated by age and primary payer. The usage of procedures commonly associated with the treatment of cerebrovascular disease is also discussed. All differences between estimates noted in the text are statistically significant at the 0.05 level or better.