Characteristics of stroke patients who receive publicly funded low-cost medical treatment

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of economically disadvantaged stroke patients, who underwent treatment for their condition using a publicly funded low-cost medical treatment. Methods: Out of 113 persons who used the low-cost medical treatment model from October 2010 to March 2018, 27 stroke patients who were hospitalized for convalescent rehabilitation comprised the treatment group. Stroke patients who were hospitalized next to the patient and who did not use the low-cost medical treatment model comprised the control group. Results: In the treatment group, the income protection ratio was 64%, the average age was 72.0 years, and the average length of hospital stay was 143.7 days, which was lower than the average age of the control group (78.9 years) and longer than the length of the hospital stay of the control group (95.1 days). Conclusions: People living in poverty are at a higher risk of suffering from cerebrovascular disorders at a younger age than nonpoor people, and the length of hospital stay is prolonged when the disorder occurs.