Department of Radiology
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Addo 2011

 

Year: 2011

Title: Provision of acute stroke care and associated factors in a multiethnic population: prospective study with the South London Stroke Register

Country: UK

Age: Adult Only

Sex: All Sexes

Population: Multiple Groups

Care Setting: Inpatient General Care

Clinical Setting: Stroke Imaging

Data Level: Regional

Data Type: Disease Registry

Data Source: Local data

Conclusion: No Disparities Based on Patient Race/Ethnicity

Health OutComes Reported: No

Mitigation: No

Free Text Conclusion: Black race was not associated with decreased likelihood of brain imaging in acute stroke care.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To investigate time trends in receipt of effective acute stroke care and to determine the factors associated with provision of care. DESIGN: Population based stroke register. SETTING: South London. PARTICIPANTS: 3800 patients with first ever ischaemic stroke or primary intracerebral haemorrhage registered between January 1995 and December 2009. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Acute care interventions, admission to hospital, care on a stroke unit, acute drugs, and inequalities in access to care. RESULTS: Between 2007 and 2009, 5% (33/620) of patients were still not admitted to a hospital after an acute stroke, particularly those with milder strokes, and 21% (124/584) of patients admitted to hospital were not admitted to a stroke unit. Rates of admission to stroke units and brain imaging, between 1995 and 2009, and for thrombolysis, between 2005 and 2009, increased significantly (P<0.001). Black patients compared with white patients had a significantly increased odds of admission to a stroke unit (odds ratio 1.76, 95% confidence interval 1.35 to 2.29, P<0.001) and of receipt of occupational therapy or physiotherapy (1.90, 1.21 to 2.97, P=0.01), independent of age or stroke severity. Patients with motor or swallowing deficits were also more likely to be admitted to a stroke unit (1.52, 1.12 to 2.06, P=0.001 and 1.32, 1.02 to 1.72, P<0.001, respectively). Length of stay in hospital decreased significantly between 1995 and 2009 (P<0.001). The odds of brain imaging were lowest in patients aged 75 or more years (P=0.004) and those of lower socioeconomic status (P<0.001). The likelihood of those with a functional deficit receiving rehabilitation increased significantly over time (P<0.001). Patients aged 75 or more were more likely to receive occupational therapy or physiotherapy (P=0.002). CONCLUSION: Although the receipt of effective acute stroke care improved between 1995 and 2009, inequalities in its provision were significant, and implementation of evidence based care was not optimal.