Proposed International Classification of Diseases Eleventh Revision Classification and Its Effects on Stroke Unit Care

Over the past 2 decades, significant advances have been made in understanding the underlying pathogenesis of stroke, leading to the development of more effective treatments including thrombolysis, thrombectomy, hemicraniectomy, early secondary prevention, and dedicated care.1,2 These understandings were realized within Stroke Unit Care settings where patients are more likely to survive, be independent, and living at home at 1 year after stroke, without any observed systematic increase in the length of inpatient stay, compared with patients receiving general medicine care.1 Stroke Unit care also includes comprehensive rehabilitation, which has been shown to contribute to better outcome and improved disability.3 Stroke Unit Care treats stroke as an acute brain disease, by focusing on the assessment of neurovascular features.These accomplishments within the Stroke Unit have been realized independent of the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, TenthRevision ( ICD-10 ). Once thought to be only a vascular disease, it has become clear that stroke outcomes and …