Pilot Scheme of Health Policy in Stroke Adjuvant Acupuncture Therapy for Acute and Subacute Ischemic Stroke in Taiwan
Table 2
Mortality and comorbidity during admission and in six-month-followup.
HPSAAT participants ()
Matched control : non HPSAAT ()
-value
(a) Baseline comparison: factors affecting mortality and comorbidity
Neurological impairment*
Baseline NIHSS scores
14.9 (9.4)
7.5 (7.0)
<.001
Interquartile range
7–22
2-11.75
NIHSS at consult
16.6 (8.8)
—
NIHSS at discharge‡
15.4 (8.3)
5.6 (5.5)
<.001
Functional impairment**
Baseline mRS > 3
24 (92.3)
32 (61.5)
<.01
mRS > 3 at consult
25 (96.2)
—
mRS > 3 at discharge‡
22 (88.0)
24 (50.0)
.001
(b) Mortality and comorbidity during admission**
Mortality during admission
0 (0.0)
3 (5.8)
Neurological complications
Recurrent stroke
1 (3.8)
1 (1.9)
Stroke in-evolution after admission
9 (34.6)
2 (3.8)
.001
Medical complications
Urinary tract infection (total)
12 (46.2)
12 (23.1)
<.05
Before acupuncture
7 (26.9)
—
After acupuncture
5 (19.2)
—
Pneumonia (total)
9 (34.6)
11 (21.2)
Before acupuncture
9 (34.6)
—
After acupuncture
0 (0.0)
—
Cellulitis (total)
2 (7.7)
1 (1.9)
Before acupuncture
1 (3.8)
—
After acupuncture
1 (3.8)
—
Gastrointestinal bleeding
4 (15.4)
8 (15.4)
Before acupuncture
4 (15.4)
—
After acupuncture
0 (0.0)
—
(c) Six-month followup in KCGMH**,‡
Ever readmission due to acute disorders
2 (8.0)
7 (14.6)
Recurrent stroke within 6 months
0 (0.0)
1 (2.1)
Expire within 6 months
0 (0.0)
2 (4.2)
Outpatient followup**,‡
In neurology department
First 3 months
19 (76.0)
37 (77.1)
6 months
17 (68.0)
37 (77.1)
In rehabilitation department
First 3 months
5 (20.0)
2 (4.2)
<.05
6 months
5 (20.0)
1 (2.1)
<.05
In acupuncture department
First 3 months
9 (36.0)
0 (0.0)
<.001
6 months
8 (32.0)
0 (0.0)
<.001
*Data are given as mean (SD). **Data are given as number (percentage). †Mortality was excluded (case = 0, control = 3). ‡Mortality (case = 0, control = 3) and patients with recurrent stroke (case = 1, control = 1) during admission were excluded. Abbreviation: HPSAAT, the Pilot Scheme of the Health Policy in Stroke Adjuvant Acupuncture Therapy. NIHSS: National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. mRS: modified Rankin Scale. mRS > 3 was defined as dependent status. KCGMH: the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital—Kaohsiung Medical Center.
