Factors Influencing Early Admission in a French Stroke Unit

Abstract

The present study shows that hospital arrival within the first hours of stroke is feasible in a French stroke unit. As many as 75% of the patients are admitted within the first 6 hours of stroke. This is the first study demonstrating that stroke unit admission in France is fastest in patients brought to the hospital by EMS or FD ambulances. However, only 35% of stroke patients activate the emergency telephone system and are currently transported by EMS or FD ambulances. French stroke patients should be encouraged to seek immediate medical attention by using the emergency telephone system, and stroke management should be reprioritized in the French EMS as a time-dependent medical emergency, with the same level of organization and expertise currently applied to myocardial infarction.