Research Portfolio
Building Evidence for Stroke Systems in Africa
The WeCASOR Network supports a coordinated portfolio of research initiatives designed to improve understanding of stroke outcomes, care pathways, and health system performance across West and Central Africa.
Through collaborative data collection, standardized methodologies, and institutional partnerships, WeCASOR aims to generate high-quality evidence that can inform clinical practice, strengthen health systems, and support evidence-based policy development.
The research portfolio is organized around a central registry infrastructure and several complementary studies designed to examine stroke care from admission through long-term recovery.
Scientific Rationale
Stroke outcomes across Africa are shaped by system factors (timely access, imaging capacity, care pathways), patient factors (comorbidities, socioeconomic barriers), and follow-up factors (rehabilitation access, continuity of care).
Yet many settings lack consistent longitudinal follow-up, standardized outcome measures, and harmonized registries capable of generating multiâsite, multiâcountry evidence.
WeCASOR addresses this by implementing standardized variables, shared definitions, and structured phases that build from baseline characterization to prospective outcomes tracking and future trial readiness.
Research Phases
Retrospective MultiâSite Characterization
Purpose: Establish baseline characterization of stroke admissions, acute management patterns, and in-hospital outcomes across participating sites.
Typical outputs include stroke subtype distribution, time-to-presentation, imaging utilization, acute treatment patterns, length of stay, and in-hospital mortality.
Prospective Longitudinal FollowâUp
Purpose: Measure outcomes beyond discharge using structured followâup at 30, 90, and 180 days.
Key outcomes include: mortality, modified Rankin Scale (mRS), re-hospitalization, functional recovery trajectory, rehabilitation access, and secondary prevention adherence.
This phase improves visibility into recovery and highlights where systems fail after discharge (lost follow-up, lack of rehab, medication nonâadherence).
WACASO Registry
West & Central Africa Stroke Outcomes Registry
The WACASO Registry is the central research infrastructure of the WeCASOR network.
The registry collects standardized, de-identified clinical and outcomes data from participating institutions across the region. The purpose of the registry is to establish a longitudinal dataset that can support scientific research, health system analysis, and policy development.
Key Objectives
- Establish a multi-country stroke outcomes dataset
- Enable standardized reporting across institutions
- Support collaborative publications
- Facilitate health systems research
- Provide a foundation for future clinical trials
Launching Studies
WACASO Registry Implementation Study
The WACASO Registry Implementation Study establishes the core multicenter stroke outcomes registry of the WeCASOR Network.
Objectives
- ⢠Establish a harmonized multicenter registry
- ⢠Evaluate feasibility of standardized data collection
- ⢠Assess completeness and comparability
- ⢠Support future research initiatives
Key Outputs
- ⢠Multicenter registry feasibility publication
- ⢠Standardized dataset for collaborative studies
- ⢠Infrastructure for future research
WeCASOR Stroke Transition & 90-Day Outcomes Study
This study examines how the quality of discharge planning and transition from hospital to community care influences early stroke outcomes.
Objectives
- ⢠Evaluate discharge transition practices
- ⢠Measure follow-up care and continuity
- ⢠Assess associations with 90-day outcomes
- ⢠Identify barriers to recovery
Key Outcomes
- ⢠30-day follow-up care access
- ⢠90-day mortality and functional recovery
- ⢠Rehospitalization rates
- ⢠Continuity of secondary prevention care
WeCASOR Rehabilitation Access & Recovery Study
This study evaluates patterns of rehabilitation referral, access, and utilization among stroke survivors after hospital discharge.
Objectives
- ⢠Assess rehabilitation referral patterns
- ⢠Measure rehabilitation access and utilization
- ⢠Identify patient and system barriers
- ⢠Evaluate relationship with functional recovery
Key Outcomes
- ⢠Rehabilitation attendance after discharge
- ⢠Time to first rehabilitation contact
- ⢠Number of rehabilitation sessions
- ⢠Functional recovery at follow-up
Future Research Programs
As the WeCASOR Network expands, additional research programs will be developed to address key gaps in stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery across the region.
Potential future studies include:
- ⢠Secondary stroke prevention and medication adherence research
- ⢠Stroke systems of care and emergency access studies
- ⢠Community awareness and early stroke recognition initiatives
- ⢠Health system capacity studies
- ⢠Implementation science projects for stroke care improvement
Collaborate on Research
The WeCASOR network welcomes collaboration with academic institutions, clinicians, and researchers interested in contributing to stroke outcomes research in Africa.
Contact for Research CollaborationWACASO Registry Implementation Study (Phase 1)
WeCASOR Stroke Transition & 90-Day Outcomes Study (Phase 2)
WeCASOR Rehabilitation Access & Recovery Study (Phase 3)
- Genomic modifiers of stroke recovery in West Africa.
- Digital therapeutics for post-stroke cognitive impairment.
Collaboration
Researchers interested in participating as institutional sites or joint research initiatives are invited to contact us.