The Lithuanian Stroke Database: selection of national stroke care performance measures

This is the whole problem in stroke enumerated in one word; 'care'; NOT RECOVERY!

YOU have to get involved and change this failure mindset of 'care' to 100% RECOVERY! Survivors want RECOVERY, NOT 'CARE'!

I see nothing here that states going for 100% recovery! You need to create EXACT PROTOCOLS FOR THAT!

ASK SURVIVORS WHAT THEY WANT, THEY'LL NEVER RESPOND 'CARE'! This tyranny of low expectations has to be completely rooted out of any stroke conversation! I wouldn't go there because of such incompetency as not having 100% recovery protocols!

RECOVERY IS THE ONLY GOAL IN STROKE! GET THERE!

 The Lithuanian Stroke Database: selection of national stroke care performance measures

Austėja Dapkutė¹, Justas Trinkūnas^2,3, Daiva Rastenytė⁴, Vaidas Matijošaitis⁴, Saulius Taroza^1,5, Dalius Jatužis¹, Sandra Baužaitė-Babušienė⁶, Aleksandras Vilionskis¹, Andrius Klimašauskas⁷, Julius Juodakis³, Julius Jaramavičius⁸ and Rytis Masiliūnas^1*

¹Clinic of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania

²Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania

3Centre for Digital Medicine, Translational Health Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania

4Department of Neurology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania

5Klaipėda University Hospital, Klaipėda, Lithuania

6Department of Neurology, Republican Panevėžys Hospital, Panevėžys, Lithuania

7Clinic of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania

8Clinic of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania

Edited by

Thanh G. Phan, Monash Health, Australia

Reviewed by

Julie Morrison, University of Melbourne, Australia

Anne Hickey, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Ireland

*Correspondence

Rytis Masiliūnas, rytis.masiliunas@santa.lt

Received 23 December 2024

Accepted 12 May 2025

Published 23 May 2025

Citation

Dapkutė A, Trinkūnas J, Rastenytė D, Matijošaitis V, Taroza S, Jatužis D, Baužaitė-Babušienė S, Vilionskis A, Klimašauskas A, Juodakis J, Jaramavičius J and Masiliūnas R (2025) The Lithuanian Stroke Database:

Introduction: The Lithuanian Stroke Database (StrokeLT) aims to automate data collection and key performance indicator (KPI) monitoring across all stroke-ready hospitals, addressing the limitations of manual processes and facilitating evidence-based improvements in stroke care nationwide. This publication outlines the selection process and target values of the KPIs designed to standardise and enhance stroke care quality in Lithuania.

Study population: The database will include all adult patients diagnosed with stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), admitted to Lithuanian stroke-ready hospitals, encompassing approximately 9,582 annual stroke and 1,899 TIA admissions based on 2023 data. The database will ensure comprehensive national coverage by integrating data from stroke centres via a centralised electronic health record system.

Main variables: A total of 53 KPIs were selected through a multi-stage Delphi process involving national experts and guided by international standards. These KPIs include 44 process metrics, such as timeliness metrics, early rehabilitation, and availability of secondary prevention, as well as 8 outcome metrics, including functional recovery, completion of a patient feedback survey and mortality. This framework enables comprehensive monitoring across all stages of patient care, as well as incorporating valuable patient feedback.

Conclusion: The Lithuanian Stroke Database establishes a standardised automated framework for monitoring stroke care using 53 KPIs, selected through a multi-stage Delphi process involving all relevant stakeholders.