Research Article

Stroke Mortality, Clinical Presentation and Day of Arrival: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Table 1

Baseline characteristics (1987–1989) of stroke patients by day of hospital arrival in the atherosclerosis risk in communities (ARIC) Study.

Study variablesWeekday arrivals ( 𝑛 = 7 1 1 , 77%)Weekend* arrivals ( 𝑛 = 2 1 8 , 23%) 𝑃 value

Mean age in years (95% CI)66.4 (65.8, 66.9)66.9 (66.0, 67.8)
Gender
 Male348 (49)108 (50).88
 Female363 (51)110 (50)
Race
 White394 (56)116 (54).66
 African American314 (44)99 (46)
Center
 Forsyth County134 (19)58 (27).05
 Jackson285 (40)83 (38)
 Minneapolis122 (17)38 (17)
 Washington County170 (24)39 (18)
Race center category
 Forsyth blacks29 (4)16 (7).07
 Forsyth whites105 15)42 (20)
 Minneapolis whites119 (17)35 (16)
 Washington Co. whites170 (24)39 (18)
 Jackson blacks285 (40)83 (39)
Stroke type
 Ischemic629 (89)192 (88).87
 Hemorrhagic82 (11)26 (12)
Stroke event
 Incident589 (83)191 (88).09
 Recurrent122 (17)27 (12)
Onset to brain imaging
 <24 hours455 (71)144 (71).84
 ≥24 hours183 (29)60 (29)
Mean length of stay (95% CI)10.3 (9.4, 11.2)9.1 (7.9, 10.3)
Current drinker332 (48)99 (46).62
Current smoker241 (34)76 (35).80
Mean cigarette years of smoking396.4 (359.6, 433.2)377.4 (313.5, 441.2)
Charlson comorbidity score2.28 (2.20, 2.37)2.22 (2.08, 2.37).89
Death within 28 days68 (9.6)22 (10.1).82
Event year
 1987–1994170 (24)51 (23).76
 1995–1998192 (26)64 (29)
 1999–2001179 (25)48 (22)
 2002–2004170 (24)55 (25)

*Weekend defined as any arrival time from midnight Friday to midnight Sunday.
Two-sided chi-squared test of equal proportions.