Retrospective Study and Analysis of Improvement Strategies for Progressive Ischemic Stroke

Progressive ischemic stroke (PIS) is a severe neurological condition with high disability and mortality rates, significantly increasing the economic burden on patients and healthcare systems. It also exacerbates doctor-patient tensions, potentially leading to medical disputes. This retrospective study analyzed 210 cases from the Advanced Stroke Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University, comparing PIS patients with general ischemic stroke patients. The results showed that PIS patients exhibited significantly lower improvements in NIHSS (-4.20 ± 0.01 vs. 3.20 ± 0.01, p ＜ 0.001) and MRS (-1.25 ± 0.02 vs. 1.24 ± 0.05, p < 0.001), alongside markedly higher hospitalization costs (9235.0 ± 200.3 vs. 4205.2 ± 120.5, p < 0.001). Moreover, the study highlighted the substantial psychological and financial toll of PIS, with affected patients reporting significantly lower General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) scores (3.5 ± 0.4 vs. 9.5 ± 0.7, p < 0.001) and higher Personal Financial Wellness Scale (PFWS) scores (35.2 ± 0.4 vs. 70.0 ± 0.8, p < 0.001), indicating diminished confidence among medical professionals and severe economic stress for patients and families. These findings underscore the necessity of a multidimensional intervention strategy integrating ethical, economic, and clinical approaches to mitigate the adverse effects of PIS.