Commentary on Trajectories of Long-Term Care after Stroke in Sweden

Stroke is a major cause of mortality and adult-onset disability, in the United States and worldwide, that often requires ongoing formal long-term care (LTC).1 The study by Meyer and colleagues,2 a nationwide study of stroke survivors in Sweden, is one of a handful of studies examining long-term patterns of institutional and community-based LTC, as well as mortality beyond the immediate poststroke period. It addresses many of the same issues as our US study, “Care Trajectories of Veterans in the 12 Months After Hospitalization for Acute Ischemic Stroke.”3 This commentary draws on findings from both studies to highlight what we have learned about poststroke care trajectories and to identify key issues for further study.