Survival and Function after Stroke

To the Editor: In their thorough article on residual disability in survivors of stroke, Gresham et al (N Engl J Med 293:954, 1975) reported that of 313 patients with stroke 190 died, and stated that “Stroke is a disease of high mortality. “Of great importance to physicians considering medical or surgical treatment of patients with a history of stroke is the natural history, most importantly the mortality of this disease. Therefore, it would be of great interest to know how many if not all, of the 190 died directly from stroke (e.g., massive cerebral infarction or cerebral herniation) or indirectly. . .