The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Hospital admission rates for stroke are strongly associated with population factors. The supply and quality of primary care services may also affect admission rates, but there is little previous research. ⋯ Associations of stroke admission rates with deprivation and smoking highlight the need for smoking-cessation services. Of the stroke and hypertension clinical quality indicators examined, only reaching a total cholesterol target was associated with reduced admission rates. Patient experience of access to primary care may also be clinically important. In countries with well-developed primary healthcare systems, the potential to reduce hospital admissions by further improving the clinical quality of primary healthcare may be limited.