The Dundee Stroke Register: Experience of the first ten years

The objective to establish a register of all patients admitted to Dundee ho spitals with acute stroke has been achieved. To do this a computerised data base system has been established and a prospective survey has been conducte d of clinical data of patients at time of admission, with follow-up at one and three years. All patients with a WHO diagnosis of acute stroke (excludi ng patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage), from January 1988 have been rec orded By the end of 1998, 3222 patients had been registered. The Dundee Str oke register database is the largest in Scotland and one of the largest in the world. The establishment of the register and database has required subs tantial investment of resources and the collaboration of the NHS, universit ies and the private sector The operation of the register has heightened int erest in stroke. It also provides present and future opportunities for clin ical research and audit studies and the monitoring of outcomes.