OBJECTIVES: Assess clinical management and associated economic burden over a 12-month period following the acute phase of ischemic stroke in French primary care patients. METHODS: A questionnaire covering the course of patient management from initial diagnosis through one year of follow up was sent to 100 general practitioners from 4 representative regions of France. Each GP was asked to complete a questionnaire for 2 patients with IS between April 1, 2005 and March 31, 2006 using one-year data recorded from their own files. RESULTS: The sample size consisted of 196 patients, almost all of whom were hospitalized. Mean hospital LOS was 23 days. The first service most patients (81.3%) were admitted to was the emergency unit. All had imaging tests (96.8%). With the exception of specialised stroke units, severity or dependency scales were infrequently administered upon arrival. At discharge, 55% of patients went home and 25% went to rehabilitation centres. During the 12-month’s following IS, rehospitalisation for reasons relating to stroke was observed in 16% of patients. One year after discharge, per patient costs of IS amounted to €18,459 (15,762-21,157), with the acute phase accounting for 41%, rehabilitation 30% and ambulatory care 15%. Drug costs were the least expensive element of IS (2% of total cost). CONCLUSIONS: Results observed were consistent with previously published data. Higher mean length of stay seen in the present study may be explained by the averaging of geriatric and re-education unit LOS (32 and 62 days, respectively) versus 12 days in specialized stroke units. The present study confirmed that most patients are not cared for in specialized stroke units despite acknowledgement that such units offer improved management (better assessment, lower LOS). Costs incurred during the year following IS were mainly due to disability after the acute phase. Medication cost was not significant.