Recruitment and study organization
The study concerned post-IS patients > = 18 years old who had been hospitalized during the
period of January-March 2009 in randomly selected 3 out of 15 stroke centers in Pomerania.
The study was conducted beyond acute phase of stroke to ensure the reliability of measurements
(renal formulas requires that renal function is in a steady state).
The survey fieldwork was carried out in the period of 3 to 6 months after IS by nurses working
at neurological wards, who were familiar with IS-subjects and who were experienced in performing
such tests in the elderly (over 60 years old). The nurses had been trained by the
authors of the project to assess the functional and mental status of the patients. The training
also concerned interpersonal techniques, aimed at reducing the percentage of potential refusals
to participate in the study.
A nurse visited the patient in their house two to three times.
During the first visit she collected the medical history of the patient and completed a questionnaire.
She also performed a functional assessment, anthropometric and blood pressure
measurements.
The second visit was to repeat blood pressure measurements and to collect blood and urine
samples. Patients with increased fasting glucose (without previously diagnosed diabetes mellitus)
had an additional glucose level measurement during the third visit.
To compare surviving and non-surviving subjects the data from hospital records was used.
Laboratory results were derived from last in-hospital sampling.