Hospital resources for urokinase/recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator therapy for acute stroke in Beijing

BackgroundWe focus on the current resource level for UK/rt-PA therapy in hospitals in Beijing to design strategies for improving treatment for stroke patients.MethodsThe data were collected through surveys of 124 grade II or higher hospitals in Bejing, which provide stroke treatment, from July to September 2006.ResultsOf the surveyed hospitals, 50% and 92.6% were capable in providing intravenous UK/rt-PA treatment and head CT service, respectively. Eight (7.4%) hospitals have specialized stroke units and 106 (98.1%) hospitals have EDs. We found significant differences between hospitals that can provide UK/rt-PA therapy and the hospitals that cannot in the levels of specialists and clinical care capacity as follows: CT (100% vs 85.2%; P = 0.01), CTA (46.3% vs 22.2%; P = .014), MRI (66.7% vs 22.2%; P = .000), MRA (57.4% vs 20.4%; P = .000), DWI (48.1% vs 9.3%; P = .000), PWI (31.5% vs 5.6%; P = .001), DSA (63.0% vs 25.9%; P = .000), neurologists (100% vs 79.6%; P = .001), neurosurgeons (75.9% vs 44.4%; P = .002), carotid stenting (33.3% vs 5.6%; P = .000), stroke unit (14.8% vs 0%; P = .01), and acute stroke care system (31.5% vs 0%; P = .000).ConclusionThe thrombolysis treatment facilities in Beijing are not sufficient. Hospitals in Beijing should organize stroke-related medical sources.