Key Performance Indicators

KPI 6b

Access to a stroke unit for patients with acute stroke, defined as % of patients admitted to a stroke unit for care within 24 hours after admission to hospital.

Current status

Stroke unit care is a time-sensitive treatment, why admission to stroke unit care within 24 hours is of interest and monitored by this KPI. However, only few countries monitor the timing of the admission to stroke unit, which may be seen in the light of the concerningly low rates of overall stroke unit admission. In 2023, no countries met the KPI of 90% admission within 24 hours of arrival to hospital. In conclusion, there is not only inadequate access to stroke unit care in Europe but also inadequate access to timely stroke unit care.

The ultimate target is that patients are admitted to stroke unit care within 24 hours of presenting in hospital, as an intermediate target that timing of admission to stroke unit care is monitored.