Browsing by Author "Middleton, Sandy"
Now showing 1 - 13 of 13
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Blood pressure variability and outcome in acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke: a post hoc analysis of the HeadPoST study(2019) Minhas, Jatinder; Wang, Xia; Lavados, Pablo; Moullaali, Tom; Arima, Hisatomi; Billot, Laurent; Olavarria, Veronica; Middleton, Sandy; Pontes, Octavio; De Silva, H Asita; Lee, Tsong; Pandian, Jeyaraj; Mead, Gillian; Watkins, Caroline; Chalmers, John; Anderson, Craig S; Robinson, Thompson; HeadPoST InvestigatorsThe Head Positioning in Acute Stroke Trial (HeadPoST) is a pragmatic, international, cluster crossover randomized trial of 11,093 patients with acute stroke assigned to a lying-flat (0°) or sitting-up (head elevated ≥30°) position. This post hoc analysis aimed to determine the association between blood pressure variability (BPV) and outcomes for patients from a wide range of international clinical settings and how the association was modified by randomized head position. BPV was defined according to the standard criteria, with the key parameter considered the coefficient of variation (CV) of systolic BP (SBP) over 24 h. Outcome was ordinal 90-day Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score. The association was analyzed by ordinal, logistic regression, hierarchical, mixed models with fixed intervention (lying flat vs. sitting up), and fixed period, random cluster, and random cluster-period, effects. Nine thousand one hundred and fifty six (8324 acute ischemic stroke and 817 intracerebral hemorrhage; mean age 68.1 years; 39.2% women) were included in the analysis. CV of SBP had a significant linear association with unfavorable shift of mRS at 90 days (adjusted odds ratio 1.06, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.11; P = 0.01). There was no heterogeneity of the association by randomized head positioning. In addition, CV of diastolic BP (DBP) (1.08, 1.03-1.12; P = 0.001) over 24 h post stroke was significantly associated with 3-month poor outcome. The association was more apparent in sitting-up position (1.12, 1.06-1.19) compared with lying-flat position (1.03, 0.98-1.09) (P interaction = 0.005). BPV was associated with adverse stroke outcome, and the magnitude of the association was greater with sitting-up head positioning in terms of DBP variability.Item Cluster-Randomized, Crossover Trial of Head Positioning in Acute Stroke(Massachusetts Medical Society, 2017) Anderson, Craig; Arima, Hisatomi; Lavados, Pablo; Billot, Laurent; Hackett, Maree; Olavarría, Verónica; Muñoz Venturelli, Paula; Brunser, Alejandro; Peng, Bin; Cui, Liying; Song, Lily; Rogers, Kris; Middleton, Sandy; Lim, Joyce Y.; Forshaw, Denise; Lightbody, Elizabeth; Woodward, Mark; Pontes-Neto, Octavio; De Silva, Asita; Lin, Ruey-Tay; Lee, Tsong-Hai; Pandian, Jeyaraj D.; Mead, Gillian E.; Robinson, Thompson; Watkins, Caroline; HeadPoST Investigators and CoordinatorsBACKGROUND: The role of supine positioning after acute stroke in improving cerebral blood flow and the countervailing risk of aspiration pneumonia have led to variation in head positioning in clinical practice. We wanted to determine whether outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke could be improved by positioning the patient to be lying flat (i.e., fully supine with the back horizontal and the face upwards) during treatment to increase cerebral perfusion. METHODS: In a pragmatic, cluster-randomized, crossover trial conducted in nine countries, we assigned 11,093 patients with acute stroke (85% of the strokes were ischemic) to receive care in either a lying-flat position or a sitting-up position with the head elevated to at least 30 degrees, according to the randomization assignment of the hospital to which they were admitted; the designated position was initiated soon after hospital admission and was maintained for 24 hours. The primary outcome was degree of disability at 90 days, as assessed with the use of the modified Rankin scale (scores range from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater disability and a score of 6 indicating death). RESULTS: The median interval between the onset of stroke symptoms and the initiation of the assigned position was 14 hours (interquartile range, 5 to 35). Patients in the lying-flat group were less likely than patients in the sitting-up group to maintain the position for 24 hours (87% vs. 95%, P<0.001). In a proportional-odds model, there was no significant shift in the distribution of 90-day disability outcomes on the global modified Rankin scale between patients in the lying-flat group and patients in the sitting-up group (unadjusted odds ratio for a difference in the distribution of scores on the modified Rankin scale in the lying-flat group, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 0.92 to 1.10; P=0.84). Mortality within 90 days was 7.3% among the patients in the lying-flat group and 7.4% among the patients in the sitting-up group (P=0.83). There were no significant between-group differences in the rates of serious adverse events, including pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: Disability outcomes after acute stroke did not differ significantly between patients assigned to a lying-flat position for 24 hours and patients assigned to a sitting-up position with the head elevated to at least 30 degrees for 24 hours. (Funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia; HeadPoST ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02162017.)Item Dysphagia screening and risks of pneumonia and adverse outcomes after acute stroke: An international multicenter study(Sage, 2019-06) Ouyang, Menglu; Boaden, Elizabeth; Arima, Hisatomi; Lavados, Pablo; Billot, Laurent; Hackett, Maree; Olavarría, Verónica; Muñoz Venturelli, Paula; Song, Lili; Rogers, Kris; Middleton, Sandy; Pontes-Neto, Octavio; Lee, Tsong-Hai; Watkins, Caroline; Robinson, Thompson; Anderson, CraigBackground Dysphagia is associated with aspiration pneumonia after stroke. Data are limited on the influences of dysphagia screen and assessment in clinical practice. Aims To determine associations between a “brief” screen and “detailed” assessment of dysphagia on clinical outcomes in acute stroke patients. Methods A prospective cohort study analyzed retrospectively using data from a multicenter, cluster cross-over, randomized controlled trial (Head Positioning in Acute Stroke Trial [HeadPoST]) from 114 hospitals in nine countries. HeadPoST included 11,093 acute stroke patients randomized to lying-flat or sitting-up head positioning. Herein, we report predefined secondary analyses of the association of dysphagia screening and assessment and clinical outcomes of pneumonia and death or disability (modified Rankin scale 3–6) at 90 days. Results Overall, 8784 (79.2%) and 3917 (35.3%) patients were screened and assessed for dysphagia, respectively, but the frequency and timing for each varied widely across regions. Neither use of a screen nor an assessment for dysphagia was associated with the outcomes, but their results were compared to “screen-pass” patients, those who failed had higher risks of pneumonia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.18–4.10) and death or disability (aOR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.41–1.95). Similar results were evidence for the results of an assessment for dysphagia. Subsequent feeding restrictions were related to higher risk of pneumonia in patients failed dysphagia screen or assessment (aOR = 4.06, 95% CI = 1.72–9.54). Conclusions Failing a dysphagia screen is associated with increased risks of pneumonia and poor clinical outcome after acute stroke. Further studies concentrate on determining the effective subsequent feeding actions are needed to improve patient outcomes.Item Head Position in Stroke Trial (HeadPoST) - sitting-up vs lying-flat positioning of patients with acute stroke: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial(Biomed Central Ltd., 2015) Muñoz, Paula; Arima, Hisatomi; Lavados, Pablo; Brunser, Alejandro; Peng, Bin; Cui, Liying; Song, Lily; Billot, Laurent; Boaden, Elizabeth; Hackett, Maree; Heritier, Stephane; Stephen, Jan; Middleton, Sandy; Olavarría, Verónica; Lim, Joyce; Lyndle, Richard; Heeley, Emma; Thompson, Robinson; Pontes, Octavio; Natsagdorj, Lkhamtsoo; Ruey-Tay, Lin; Watkins, Caroline; Anderson, CraigBACKGROUND: Positioning a patient lying-flat in the acute phase of ischaemic stroke may improve recovery and reduce disability, but such a possibility has not been formally tested in a randomised trial. We therefore initiated the Head Position in Stroke Trial (HeadPoST) to determine the effects of lying-flat (0°) compared with sitting-up (≥ 30°) head positioning in the first 24 hours of hospital admission for patients with acute stroke. METHODS/DESIGN: We plan to conduct an international, cluster randomised, crossover, open, blinded outcome-assessed clinical trial involving 140 study hospitals (clusters) with established acute stroke care programs. Each hospital will be randomly assigned to sequential policies of lying-flat (0°) or sitting-up (≥ 30°) head position as a 'business as usual' stroke care policy during the first 24 hours of admittance. Each hospital is required to recruit 60 consecutive patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS), and all patients with acute intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) (an estimated average of 10), in the first randomised head position policy before crossing over to the second head position policy with a similar recruitment target. After collection of in-hospital clinical and management data and 7-day outcomes, central trained blinded assessors will conduct a telephone disability assessment with the modified Rankin Scale at 90 days. The primary outcome for analysis is a shift (defined as improvement) in death or disability on this scale. For a cluster size of 60 patients with AIS per intervention and with various assumptions including an intracluster correlation coefficient of 0.03, a sample size of 16,800 patients at 140 centres will provide 90 % power (α 0.05) to detect at least a 16 % relative improvement (shift) in an ordinal logistic regression analysis of the primary outcome. The treatment effect will also be assessed in all patients with ICH who are recruited during each treatment study period. DISCUSSION: HeadPoST is a large international clinical trial in which we will rigorously evaluate the effects of different head positioning in patients with acute stroke.Item Impact of Evidence-Based Stroke Care on Patient Outcomes: A Multilevel Analysis of an International study(2019) Muñoz Venturelli, Paula; Li, Xian; Middleton, Sandy; Watkins, Caroline; Lavados, Pablo; Olavarría, Verónica; Brunser, Alejandro; Pontes-Neto, Octavio; Santos, Taiza; Hisatomi, Arima; Billot, Laurent; Hackett, Maree; Song, Lily; Robinson, Thompson; Anderson, Craig; HEADPOST, Head positioning in acuteBackground-—The uptake of proven stroke treatments varies widely. We aimed to determine the association of evidence-based processes of care for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and clinical outcome of patients who participated in the HEADPOST (Head Positioning in Acute Stroke Trial), a multicenter cluster crossover trial of lying flat versus sitting up, head positioning in acute stroke. Methods and Results-—Use of 8 AIS processes of care were considered: reperfusion therapy in eligible patients; acute stroke unit care; antihypertensive, antiplatelet, statin, and anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation; dysphagia assessment; and physiotherapist review. Hierarchical, mixed, logistic regression models were performed to determine associations with good outcome (modified Rankin Scale scores 0–2) at 90 days, adjusted for patient and hospital variables. Among 9485 patients with AIS, implementation of all processes of care in eligible patients, or “defect-free” care, was associated with improved outcome (odds ratio, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.18–1.65) and better survival (odds ratio, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.62–3.09). Defect-free stroke care was also significantly associated with excellent outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0–1) (odds ratio, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.04–1.43). No hospital characteristic was independently predictive of outcome. Only 1445 (15%) of eligible patients with AIS received all processes of care, with significant regional variations in overall and individual rates. Conclusions-—Use of evidence-based care is associated with improved clinical outcome in AIS. Strategies are required to address regional variation in the use of proven AIS treatments.Item Influence of Including Patients with Premorbid Disability in Acute Stroke Trials: The HeadPoST Experience(2021) Wang, Xia; Moullaali, Tom J.; Ouyang, Menglu; Billot, Laurent; Sandset, Else Charlotte; Song, Lili; Delcourt, Candice; Hackett, Maree L.; Watkins, Caroline L.; Robinson, Thompson G.; Yang, Jie; Lavados, Pablo; Brunser, Alejandro; Muñoz Venturelli, Paula; Olavarría, Verónica; Arima, Hisatomi; Middleton, Sandy; Pontes-Neto, Octávio M.; Pandian, Jeyaraj Durai; Rogers; Rogers, Kris; Anderson, Craig S.Background: Patients with premorbid functional impairment are generally excluded from acute stroke trials. We aimed to determine the impact of including such patients in the Head Positioning in acute Stroke Trial (HeadPoST) and early additional impairment on outcomes. Methods: Post hoc analyses of HeadPoST, an international, cluster-randomized crossover trial of lying-flat versus sitting-up head positioning in acute stroke. Associations of early additional impairment, defined as change in modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores from premorbid levels (estimated at baseline) to Day 7 ("early ΔmRS"), and poor outcome (mRS score 3-6) at Day 90 were determined with generalized linear mixed model. Heterogeneity of the trial treatment effect was tested according to premorbid mRS scores 0-1 versus 2-5. Results: Of 8,285 patients (38.9% female, mean age 68 ± 13 years) with complete data, there were 1,984 (23.9%) with premorbid functional impairment (mRS 2-5). A significant linear association was evident for early ∆mRS and poor outcome (per 1-point increase in ΔmRS, adjusted odds ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval 1.14-1.27; p < 0.0001). Patients with greater premorbid functional impairment were less likely to develop additional impairment, but their risk of poor 90-day outcome significantly increased with increasing (worse) premorbid mRS scores (linear trend p < 0.0001). There was no heterogeneity of the trial treatment effect by level of premorbid function. Conclusions: Early poststroke functional impairment that exceeded premorbid levels was associated with worse 90-day outcome, and this association increased with greater premorbid functional impairment. Yet, including premorbid impaired patients in the HeadPoST did not materially affect the subsequent treatment effect.Item Low blood pressure and adverse outcomes in acute stroke: HeadPoSTstudy explanations(2021) Muñoz Venturelli, Paula; Billota, Laurent; Wang, Xia; Ouyang, Menglu; Song, Lili; Arima, Hisatomi; Lavados, Pablo; Hackett, Maree L.; Olavarría, Verónica V.; Brunser, Alejandro; Middleton, Sandy; Pontes-Neto, Octavio M.; Lee, Tsong-Hai; Watkins, Caroline L.; Robinson, Thompson; Anderson, Craig S.Objective: As uncertainties exist over underlying causes, we aimed to define the characteristics and prognostic significance of low blood pressure (BP) early after the onset of acute stroke. Methods: Post hoc analyzes of the international Head Positioning in acute Stroke Trial (HeadPoST), a pragmatic cluster-crossover randomized trial of lying flat versus sitting up in stroke patients from nine countries during 2015-2016. Associations of baseline BP and death or dependency [modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores 3-6] and serious adverse events (SAEs) at 90 days were assessed in generalized linear mixed models with adjustment for multiple confounders. SBP and DBP was analysed as continuous measures fitted with a cubic spline, and as categorical measures with low (<10th percentile) and high (≥140 and ≥90 mmHg, respectively) levels compared with a normal range (≥10th percentile; 120-139 and 70-89 mmHg, respectively). Results: Among 11 083 patients (mean age 68 years, 39.9% women) with baseline BP values, 7.2 and 11.7% had low SBP (<120 mmHg) and DBP (<70 mmHg), respectively. Patients with low SBP were more likely to have preexisting cardiac and ischemic stroke and functional impairment, and to present earlier with more severe neurological impairment than other patients. Nonlinear 'J-shaped' relationships of BP and poor outcome were apparent: compared with normal SBP, those with low SBP had worse functional outcome (adjusted odds ratio 1.27, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.58) and more SAEs, particularly cardiac events, with adjustment for potential confounders to minimize reverse causation. The findings were consistent for DBP and were stronger for ischemic rather than hemorrhagic stroke. Conclusion: The prognostic significance of low BP on poor outcomes in acute stroke was not explained by reverse causality from preexisting cardiovascular disease, and propensity towards greater neurological deficits and cardiac events. These findings provide support for the hypothesis that low BP exacerbates cardiac and cerebral ischemia in acute ischemic stroke.Item No benefit of flat head positioning in early moderate-severe acute ischaemic stroke: a HeadPoST study subgroup analysis(2020) Brunser, Alejandro M; Ouyang, Menglu; Arima, Hisatomi; Lavados, Pablo; Robinson, Thompson; Muñoz Venturelli, Paula; Olavarría, Verónica V; Billot, Laurent; Hackett, Marre L; Song, Lili; Middleton, Sandy; Pontes-Neto, Octavio; Lee, Tsong-Hai; Watkins, Caroline; Anderson, Craig SBackground: Although the Head Positioning in acute Stroke Trial (HeadPoST) showed no effect of the flat head position (FP; vs sitting up head position (SUP)) on functional outcome, we hypothesised that it could still offer benefits if commenced early in those with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) of at least moderate severity. Methods: Subgroup analysis of HeadPoST in participants with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores ≥7, ≥10 and ≥14, randomised to FP or SUP <4.5 hours of AIS onset on functional outcomes defined by a shift in scores on the modified Rankin scale (mRS) and death/disability (mRS scores 3-6), and any cardiovascular serious adverse event. Logistic regression analyses were undertaken adjusted for study design and baseline risk factors. Results: There was no significant differential treatment effect in patient subgroups defined by increasing baseline NIHSS scores: adjusted OR and 95% CI for ordinal shift and binary (3-6) mRS scores: for NIHSS ≥7 (n=867) 0.92 (0.67 to 1.25) and 0.74 (0.52 to 1.04); NIHSS ≥ 10 (n=606) 0.80 (0.58 to 1.10) and 0.77 (0.49 to 1.19); NIHSS ≥14 (n=378) 0.82 (0.54 to 1.24) and 1.22 (0.69 to 2.14). Conclusions: Early FP had no significant effect in patients with moderate-severe AIS.Item Oxygen desaturation and adverse outcomes in acute stroke: Secondary analysis of the HeadPoST study(2021) Ouyang, Menglu; Roffe, Christine; Billot, Laurent; Song, Lili; Wang, Xia; Muñoz Venturelli, Paula; Lavados, Pablo; Robinson, Thompson; Middleton, Sandy; Olavarría, Verónica V.; Watkins, Caroline L.; Lee, Tsong-Hai; Brunser, Alejandro M.; Pontes-Neto, Octavio M.; Hackett, Maree L.Objective: Uncertainty exists over the prognostic significance of low arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) in acute stroke. We aimed to determine the strength of association of SaO2 and adverse outcomes among participants of the international Head Positioning in acute Stroke Trial (HeadPoST). Methods: Post-hoc analyzes of HeadPoST, a pragmatic cluster-crossover randomized trial of lying flat versus sitting up head positioning in 11,093 patients (age ≥18 years) with acute stroke at 114 hospitals in 9 countries during 2015–2016. Associations of the lowest recorded SaO2 level, as a continuous measure and as a cut-point for desaturation (SaO2 <93%), in the first 24 h and clinical outcomes of death or dependency (modified Rankin scale [mRS] scores 3–6) and any serious adverse event (SAE) at 90 days, were assessed in generalized linear mixed models adjusted for baseline and in-hospital management confounders. Results: There was an inverse J-shaped association between SaO2 and death or dependency, with a nadir for optimal outcome at 96–97%. Patients with SaO2 desaturation were older, and had greater neurological impairment, premorbid disability and cardiorespiratory disease. Desaturation was not clearly associated with death or dependency (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.95–1.48) but was with SAEs (aOR 1.34, 95% CI 1.07–1.68), without heterogeneity by head position, cardiac-respiratory comorbidity, or other pre-specified subgroups. Conclusions: Any change in SaO2 outside of 96–97% is associated with poorer outcome after acute stroke. Clinical trial registration: HeadPoST is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02162017).Item Prognostic significance of early urinary catheterization after acute stroke: Secondary analyses of the international HeadPoST trial(2021) Ouyang, Menglu; Billot, Laurent; Song, Lili; Wang, Xia; Roffe, Christine; Arima, Hisatomi; Lavados, Pablo; Hackett, Maree L; Olavarría, Verónica V; Muñoz Venturelli, Paula; Middleton, Sandy; Pontes-Neto, Octavio M; Lee, Tsong-Hai; Watkins, Caroline L; Robinson, Thompson G; Anderson, Craig SBackground: An indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) is often inserted to manage bladder dysfunction, but its impact on prognosis is uncertain. We aimed to determine the association of IUC use on clinical outcomes after acute stroke in the international, multi-center, cluster crossover, Head Positioning in Acute Stroke Trial (HeadPoST). Methods: Data were analyzed on HeadPoST participants (n = 11,093) randomly allocated to the lying-flat or sitting-up head position. Binomial, logistic regression, hierarchical mixed models were used to determine associations of early insertion of IUC within seven days post-randomization and outcomes of death or disability (defined as "poor outcome," scores 3-6 on the modified Rankin scale) and any urinary tract infection at 90 days with adjustment of baseline and post-randomization management covariates. Results: Overall, 1167 (12%) patients had an IUC, but the frequency and duration of use varied widely across patients in different regions. IUC use was more frequent in older patients, and those with vascular comorbidity, greater initial neurological impairment (on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale), and intracerebral hemorrhage as the underlying stroke type. IUC use was independently associated with poor outcome (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-1.74), but not with urinary tract infection after adjustment for antibiotic treatment and stroke severity at hospital separation (aOR: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.59-2.18). The number exposed to IUC for poor outcome was 13. Conclusions: IUC use is associated with a poor outcome after acute stroke. Further studies are required to inform appropriate use of IUC.Item Quantifying regional variations in components of acute stroke unit (ASU) care in the international HeadPoST study(2020) Ouyang, Menglu; Zhang, Yao; Wang, Xia; Song, Lili; Billot, Laurent; Robinson, Thompson; Lavados, Pablo; Arima, Hisatomi; Hackett, Maree L.; Olavarría, Verónica; Muñoz Venturelli, Paula; Middleton, Sandy; Watkins, Caroline L.; Pontes-Neto, Octavio M.; Lee, Tsong-Hai; Brunser, Alejandro; Anderson, Craig S.Objective: Access to acute stroke unit (ASU) care is known to vary worldwide. We aimed to quantify regional variations in the various components of ASU care. Method: Secondary analysis of the Head Positioning in acute Stroke Trial (HeadPoST), an international, multicentre, cluster crossover trial of head-up versus head-down positioning in 11,093 acute stroke patients at 114 hospitals in 9 countries. Patients characteristics and 11 standard components of processes of care were described according to ASU admission within and across four economically-defined regional groups (Australia/UK, China [includes Taiwan], India/Sri Lanka, and South America [Brazil/Chile/Colombia]). Variations in process of ASU care estimates were obtained in hierarchical mixed models, with adjustment for study design and potential patient- and hospital-level confounders. Results: Of 11,086 patients included in analyses, 59.7% (n = 6620) had an ASU admission. In China, India/Sri Lanka and South America, ASU patients were older, had greater neurological severity and more premorbid conditions than non-ASU patients. ASU patients were more likely to receive reperfusion therapy and multidisciplinary care within regions, but the components of care varied across regions. With Australia/UK as reference, patients in other regions had a lower probability of receiving reperfusion therapy, especially in India/Sri Lanka (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.12–0.63) and multidisciplinary care (mainly in formal dysphagia assessment, physiotherapy and occupational therapy). Conclusion: There is significant variation in the components of stroke care across economically-defined regions of the world. Ongoing efforts are required to reduce disparities and optimise health outcomes, especially in resource poor areas.Item Regional variation in acute stroke care organisation(2016) Muñoz Venturelli, Paula; Robinson, Thompson; Lavados, Pablo; Olavarría, Verónica V; Arima, Hisatomi; Billot, Laurent; Hackett, Maree L; Lim, Joyce Y; Middleton, Sandy; Pontes-Neto, Octavio; Peng, Bin; Cui, Liying; Song, Lily; Mead, Gillian; Watkins, Caroline; Lin, Ruey-Tay; Lee, Tsong-Hai; Pandian, Jeyaraj; Asita de Silva, H; Anderson, Craig SBackground: Few studies have assessed regional variation in the organisation of stroke services, particularly health care resourcing, presence of protocols and discharge planning. Our aim was to compare stroke care organisation within middle- (MIC) and high-income country (HIC) hospitals participating in the Head Position in Stroke Trial (HeadPoST). Methods: HeadPoST is an on-going international multicenter crossover cluster-randomized trial of 'sitting-up' versus 'lying-flat' head positioning in acute stroke. As part of the start-up phase, one stroke care organisation questionnaire was completed at each hospital. The World Bank gross national income per capita criteria were used for classification. Results: 94 hospitals from 9 countries completed the questionnaire, 51 corresponding to MIC and 43 to HIC. Most participating hospitals had a dedicated stroke care unit/ward, with access to diagnostic services and expert stroke physicians, and offering intravenous thrombolysis. There was no difference for the presence of a dedicated multidisciplinary stroke team, although greater access to a broad spectrum of rehabilitation therapists in HIC compared to MIC hospitals was observed. Significantly more patients arrived within a 4-h window of symptoms onset in HIC hospitals (41 vs. 13%; P<0.001), and a significantly higher proportion of acute ischemic stroke patients received intravenous thrombolysis (10 vs. 5%; P=0.002) compared to MIC hospitals. Conclusions: Although all hospitals provided advanced care for people with stroke, differences were found in stroke care organisation and treatment. Future multilevel analyses aims to determine the influence of specific organisational factors on patient outcomes.Item Statistical analysis plan for the Head Position in Stroke Trial (HeadPoST): An international cluster cross-over randomized trial(2017) Billot, Laurent; Woodward, Mark; Arima, Hisatomi; Hackett, Maree L; Muñoz Venturelli, Paula; Lavados, Pablo; Brunser, Alejandro; Peng, Bin; Cui, Liying; Song, Lily; Heritier, Stephane; Jan, Stephen; Middleton, Sandy; Olavarría, Verónica V; Lim, Joyce; Robinson, Thompson; Pontes-Neto, Octavio; Watkins, Caroline; Anderson, Craig SBackground There is evidence to indicate that the lying flat head position increases cerebral blood flow and oxygenation in patients with acute ischemic stroke, but how these physiological effects translate into clinical outcomes is uncertain. The Head Position in Stroke Trial aims to determine the comparative effectiveness of lying flat (0°) compared to sitting up (≥30°) head positioning, initiated within 24 h of hospital admission for patients with acute stroke. Design An international, pragmatic, cluster-randomized, crossover, open, blinded outcome assessed clinical trial. Each hospital with an established acute stroke unit (cluster) site was required to recruit up to 140 consecutive cases of acute stroke (one phase of head positioning before immediately crossing over to the other phase of head positioning), including both acute ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage, in each randomized head position as a 'business as usual' policy. Objective To outline in detail the predetermined statistical analysis plan for the study. Methods All accumulated data will be reviewed and formally assessed. Information regarding baseline characteristics of patients, their process of care and management will be outlined, and for each item, statistically relevant descriptive elements will be described. For the trial outcomes, the most appropriate statistical comparisons are described. Results A statistical analysis plan was developed that is transparent, verifiable, and predetermined before completion of data collection. Conclusions We developed a predetermined statistical analysis plan for Head Position in Stroke Trial to avoid analysis bias arising from prior knowledge of the findings, in order to reliably quantify the benefits and harms of lying flat versus sitting up early after the onset of acute stroke. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02162017; ANZCTR identifier ACTRN12614000483651.