Denial of Cerebrovascular Events in a National Clinical Quality Registry for Stroke: A Retrospective Cohort Study

To investigate cerebrovascular event (CVE) denials reported by registered patients to the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry, and to examine the factors associated with CVE denial. CVE denials reported from January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 were followed up with hospitals to verify their discharge diagnosis. CVE denials were compared with all non-CVE denial registrants and a 5% random sub-sample of non-CVE deniers according to patient and clinical characteristics, quality of care indicators and health outcomes. Multilevel, multivariable logistic regression models were used. Factors explored were age, sex, stroke severity, type of stroke, treatment in a stroke unit, length of stay and discharge destination. Level was defined as hospital. Overall, 339/23,830 (