RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Management characteristics and prognosis after stroke in China: findings from a large nationwide stroke registry JF Stroke and Vascular Neurology JO Stroke Vasc Neurol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 1 OP 9 DO 10.1136/svn-2020-000340 VO 6 IS 1 A1 Haiqiang Qin A1 Yiping Chen A1 Gaifen Liu A1 Iain Turnbull A1 Runhua Zhang A1 Zixiao Li A1 Yilong Wang A1 Liping Liu A1 Xingquan Zhao A1 Zhengming Chen A1 Yongjun Wang YR 2021 UL http://svn.bmj.com/content/6/1/1.abstract AB Background and purpose There is limited nationwide evidence about the standard management characteristics of stroke types and prognosis in China. This study aimed to assess clinical characteristics, in-hospital and after-discharge management characteristics and prognosis for stroke types in China.Methods A nationwide registry recruited 14 244 imaging-confirmed first-ever incident strokes from 132 hospitals across 31 provinces of China during 2007–2008, recording presenting characteristics, diagnostic procedures and in-hospital treatment. After hospital discharge, patients were followed up for 6 months. Conventional statistical methods were used to examine the patterns of management and prognosis.Results Overall, 68.7%, 26.9% and 4.4% were ischaemic stroke (IS), intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), and subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), respectively. Only 20% were managed in a dedicated stroke unit. Among IS, 1.3% received thrombolysis within 3 hours after symptom onset, whereas the proportions of receiving in-hospital antiplatelet therapy, neuroprotective agents and traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) were 88.4%, 69.7% and 70.6%, respectively. For ICH, 63.3% and 36.3% received neuroprotective agents and TCM in hospital, respectively. At discharge, 70.7% and 38.0% of the patients with IS were given antiplatelet and statin therapies, respectively, decreasing to 64.8% and 23.9%, respectively, at 6 months. In-hospital mortality was 3.2%, 9.3% and 10.1% for IS, ICH and SAH, respectively, with a further 8.6%, 18.2% and 22.0%, respectively, died by 6 month. Meanwhile, in-hospital recurrence rate was 2.6%, 1.9% and 7.2% for IS, ICH and SAH, respectively, with a further 8.0%, 5.1% and 7.5%, respectively, recurred by 6 month.Conclusions In China, the mortality rate of stroke is lower than that reported from west populations, though most strokes are not managed in specialised stroke unit. There is widespread use of some unproven therapies but limited proven treatments, especially after discharge, leading to unnecessary recurrent risks.