E-mail this page to a friend!
Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens
JAMA Study Finds People with Stroke Symptoms Still Not Calling 911
Study showing ambulance use for fast, effective treatment not increasing; urgent need to recognize stroke symptoms- see videos
March 14, 2012 Despite the efforts to inform the public of the urgency for rapid treatment for stroke victims and the effective treatments now available, the number of patients using an ambulance for rapid transportation to a treatment center has not changed since the mid-1990s.
In a study published in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center say their research highlights the need for even more education about stroke symptoms and the importance of early intervention.
The study, led by Dr. Hooman Kamel, a neurologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell and assistant professor of neurology at Weill Cornell Medical College, analyzed data collected by the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) between 1997 and 2008.
"People do not always recognize the seriousness of stroke symptoms, or instead of calling 911, they may call their primary care physician for an appointment and lose valuable time as the damage becomes irreversible," says Dr. Kamel.
Based on 1,605 cases, the study found that just 51 percent of adults diagnosed with stroke in emergency departments nationwide arrived via ambulance, with no significant change over the 11-year span.
Dr. Kamel says recovery is possible with early treatment. "We have drugs and surgeries that can minimize brain damage from a stroke, but they can be used only within a few short hours. When stroke victims or bystanders quickly recognize the symptoms of a stroke and call 911, patients are more likely to arrive in time to receive these treatments."
Read more:
JAMA Study Finds People with Stroke Symptoms Still Not Calling 911