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Pestka DL, Boes S, Ramezani S, Peters M, Usher MG, Koopmeiners JS, Beebe TJ, Melton GB, Streib CD. Implementing Telestroke in the Inpatient Setting: Identifying Factors for Success. Stroke 2024; 55:1517-1524. [PMID: 38639090 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.123.046024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inpatient telestroke programs have emerged as a solution to provide timely stroke care in underserved areas, but their successful implementation and factors influencing their effectiveness remain underexplored. This study aimed to qualitatively evaluate the perspectives of inpatient clinicians located at spoke hospitals participating in a newly established inpatient telestroke program to identify implementation barriers and facilitators. METHODS This was a formative evaluation relying on semistructured qualitative interviews with 16 inpatient providers (physicians and nurse practitioners) at 5 spoke sites of a hub-and-spoke inpatient telestroke program. The Integrated-Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework guided data analysis, focusing on the innovation, recipients, context, and facilitation aspects of implementation. Interviews were transcribed and coded using thematic analysis. RESULTS Fifteen themes were identified in the data and mapped to the Integrated-Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework. Themes related to the innovation (the telestroke program) included easy access to stroke specialists, the benefits of limiting patient transfers, concerns about duplicating tests, and challenges of timing inpatient telestroke visits and notes to align with discharge workflow. Themes pertaining to recipients (care team members and patients) were communication gaps between teams, concern about the supervision of inpatient telestroke advanced practice providers and challenges with nurse empowerment. With regard to the context (hospital and system factors), providers highlighted familiarity with telehealth technologies as a facilitator to implementing inpatient telestroke, yet highlighted resource limitations in smaller facilities. Facilitation (program implementation) was recognized as crucial for education, standardization, and buy-in. CONCLUSIONS Understanding barriers and facilitators to implementation is crucial to determining where programmatic changes may need to be made to ensure the success and sustainment of inpatient telestroke services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah L Pestka
- Center for Learning Health System Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis (D.L.P., M.P., M.G.U., J.S.K., T.J.B., G.B.M.)
| | - Samuel Boes
- Department of Neurology (S.B., S.R., C.D.S.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
| | - Solmaz Ramezani
- Department of Neurology (S.B., S.R., C.D.S.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
| | - Maya Peters
- Center for Learning Health System Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis (D.L.P., M.P., M.G.U., J.S.K., T.J.B., G.B.M.)
| | - Michael G Usher
- Center for Learning Health System Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis (D.L.P., M.P., M.G.U., J.S.K., T.J.B., G.B.M.)
| | - Joseph S Koopmeiners
- Center for Learning Health System Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis (D.L.P., M.P., M.G.U., J.S.K., T.J.B., G.B.M.)
- Division of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, School of Public Health (J.S.K.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
| | - Timothy J Beebe
- Center for Learning Health System Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis (D.L.P., M.P., M.G.U., J.S.K., T.J.B., G.B.M.)
- Division of Health Policy Management, School of Public Health (T.J.B.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
| | - Genevieve B Melton
- Center for Learning Health System Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis (D.L.P., M.P., M.G.U., J.S.K., T.J.B., G.B.M.)
- Department of Surgery (G.B.M.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
- Institute for Health Informatics (G.B.M.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
| | - Christopher D Streib
- Department of Neurology (S.B., S.R., C.D.S.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
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McCandless MG, Powers AY, Baker KE, Strickland AE. Trends in Demographic and Geographic Disparities in Stroke Mortality Among Older Adults in the United States. World Neurosurg 2024; 185:e620-e630. [PMID: 38403013 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.02.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States among older adults. However, the impact of demographic and geographic risk factors remains ambiguous. A clear understanding of these associations and updated trends in stroke mortality can influence health policies and interventions. METHODS This study characterizes stroke mortality among older adults (age ≥55) in the US from January 1999 to December 2020, sourcing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research. Segmented regression was used to analyze trends in crude mortality rate and age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) per 100,000 individuals stratified by stroke subcategory, sex, ethnicity, urbanization, and state. RESULTS A total of 3,691,305 stroke deaths occurred in older adults in the US between 1999 and 2020 (AAMR = 233.3), with an overall decrease in AAMR during these years. The highest mortality rates were seen in nonspecified stroke (AAMR = 173.5), those 85 or older (crude mortality rate1276.7), men (AAMR = 239.2), non-Hispanic African American adults (AAMR = 319.0), and noncore populations (AAMR = 276.1). Stroke mortality decreased in all states from 1999 to 2019 with the greatest and least decreases seen in California (-61.9%) and Mississippi (-35.0%), respectively. The coronavirus pandemic pandemic saw increased stroke deaths in most groups. CONCLUSIONS While there's a decline in stroke-related deaths among US older adults, outcome disparities remain across demographic and geographic sectors. The surge in stroke deaths during coronavirus pandemic reaffirms the need for policies that address these disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin G McCandless
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA.
| | - Andrew Y Powers
- Division of Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Katherine E Baker
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Allison E Strickland
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
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Howard G. Sherman Lecture: Are We Aiming at the Correct Targets to Reduce Disparities in Stroke Mortality? Celebration, Reflection, and Redirection. J Am Heart Assoc 2024; 13:e031309. [PMID: 38529644 PMCID: PMC11179784 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.031309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Although deaths from stroke have been reduced by 75% in the past 54 years, there has been virtually no reduction in the relative magnitude of Black-to-White disparity in stroke deaths, or the heavier burden of stroke deaths in the Stroke Belt region of the United States. Furthermore, although the rural-urban disparity has decreased in the past decade, this reduction is largely attributable to an increased stroke mortality in the urban areas, rather than reduced stroke mortality in rural areas. We need to focus our search for interventions to reduce disparities on those that benefit the disadvantaged populations, and support this review using relatively recently developed statistical approaches to estimate the magnitude of the potential reduction in the disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Howard
- University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham AL USA
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Looti AL, Ovbiagele B, Markovic D, Towfighi A. All-Cause, Cardiovascular, and Stroke Mortality Among Foreign-Born Versus US-Born Individuals of African Ancestry. J Am Heart Assoc 2023; 12:e026331. [PMID: 37119071 PMCID: PMC10227213 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.122.026331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Background Little is known about the effect of region of origin on all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and stroke mortality among Black individuals. We examined associations between nativity and mortality (all-cause, cardiovascular, and stroke) in Black individuals in the United States. Methods and Results Using the National Health Interview Service 2000 to 2014 data and mortality-linked files through 2015, we identified participants aged 25 to 74 years who self-identified as Black (n=64 717). Using a Cox regression model, we examined the association between nativity and all-cause, cardiovascular, and stroke mortality. We recorded 4329 deaths (205 stroke and 932 cardiovascular deaths). In the model adjusted for age and sex, compared with US-born Black individuals, all-cause (hazard ratio [HR], 0.44 [95% CI, 0.37-0.53]) and cardiovascular mortality (HR, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.44-0.87]) rates were lower among Black individuals born in the Caribbean, South America, and Central America, but stroke mortality rates were similar (HR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.52-1.94]). African-born Black individuals had lower all-cause mortality (HR, 0.43 [95% CI, 0.27-0.69]) and lower cardiovascular mortality (HR, 0.42 [95% CI, 0.18-0.98]) but comparable stroke mortality (HR, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.11-2.05]). When the model was further adjusted for education, income, smoking, body mass index, hypertension, and diabetes, the difference in mortality between foreign-born Black individuals and US-born Black individuals was no longer significant. Time since migration did not significantly affect mortality outcomes among foreign-born Black individuals. Conclusions In the United States, foreign-born Black individuals had lower all-cause mortality, a difference that was observed in recent and well-established immigrants. Foreign-born Black people had age- and sex-adjusted lower cardiovascular mortality than US-born Black people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Lekoubou Looti
- Department of NeurologyPenn State University, Hershey Medical CenterHersheyPAUSA
| | - Bruce Ovbiagele
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Daniela Markovic
- Department of BiomathematicsUniversity of California at Los AngelesLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Amytis Towfighi
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
- Los Angeles County Department of Health ServicesLos AngelesCAUSA
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Shufflebarger EF, Walter LA, Gropen TI, Madsen TE, Harrigan MR, Lazar RM, Bice J, Baldwin CS, Lyerly MJ. Educational Intervention in the Emergency Department to Address Disparities in Stroke Knowledge. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2022; 31:106424. [PMID: 35334251 PMCID: PMC9086083 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2022.106424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In the United States, Black individuals have higher stroke incidence and mortality when compared to white individuals and are also at risk of having lower stroke knowledge and awareness. With the need to implement focused interventions to decrease stroke disparities, the objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of an emergency department-based educational intervention aimed at increasing stroke awareness and preparedness among a disproportionately high-risk group. MATERIALS AND METHODS Over a three-month timeframe, an emergency department-based, prospective educational intervention was implemented for Black patients in an urban, academic emergency department. All participants received stroke education in the forms of a video, written brochure and verbal counseling. Stroke knowledge was assessed pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and at one-month post-intervention. RESULTS One hundred eighty-five patients were approached for enrollment, of whom 100 participants completed the educational intervention as well as the pre- and immediate post- intervention knowledge assessments. Participants demonstrated increased stroke knowledge from baseline knowledge assessment (5.35 ± 1.97) at both immediate post-intervention (7.66 ± 2.42, p < .0001) and one-month post-intervention assessment (7.21 ± 2.21, p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS Emergency department-based stroke education can result in improved knowledge among this focused demographic. The emergency department represents a potential site for educational interventions to address disparities in stroke knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin F Shufflebarger
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.
| | - Lauren A Walter
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Toby I Gropen
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Tracy E Madsen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Mark R Harrigan
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Ronald M Lazar
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jamie Bice
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Cassidy S Baldwin
- University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Michael J Lyerly
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
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Stroke Disparities. Stroke 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-69424-7.00015-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Howard G. Rural-urban differences in stroke risk. Prev Med 2021; 152:106661. [PMID: 34087323 PMCID: PMC8545748 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Rural-urban health disparities in life expectancy are large and increasing, with the rural-urban disparity stroke mortality serving as a potential contributor. Data from Vital Statistics shows an unexplained temporal pattern in the rural-urban disparity in stroke-specific mortality, with the magnitude of the disparity increasing from 15% to 25% between 1999 and 2010, but subsequently decreasing to 8% by 2019. This recent decrease in the magnitude of the rural-urban disparity in stroke mortality appears to be driven by a previously unreported plateauing of stroke mortality in urban areas and a continued decline of stroke mortality in rural areas. There is a need to better understand the contributors to these temporal changes; however, a general lack of temporal data on potential contributors prevents this investigation. However considering contributors to the rural-urban differences pooled across time, an overall a higher stroke incidence in rural areas appears to be a contributor to the higher rural stroke mortality, with this higher incidence potentially associated with a higher prevalence of stroke risk factors in rural areas. Conversely, studies assessing rural-urban disparities in stroke case fatality show smaller and inconsistent associations. To the extent that disparities in case fatality do exist, there are many studies showing rural-urban disparities in stroke care could be contributing. While these data offer insights to the overall rural-urban disparities in stroke mortality, additional data are needed to help understand temporal changes in the magnitude of the rural-urban stroke mortality disparity.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Howard
- Department of Biostatistics, UAB School of Public Health, 1665 University Drive, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022, United States of America.
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8
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Rahman MM, Howard G, Qian J, Garza K, Abebe A, Hansen R. Disparities in Cognitive Impairment With Anticholinergic Drug Use: A Population-Based Study. Neurol Clin Pract 2021; 11:e277-e286. [PMID: 34484902 PMCID: PMC8382379 DOI: 10.1212/cpj.0000000000000952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aim to evaluate the association between anticholinergic drug (ACH) use and cognitive impairment and the effect of disparity parameters (sex, race, income, education, and rural or urban areas) on this relationship. METHODS The analyses included 13,623 adults aged ≥65 years from the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study (recruited 2003-2007). The ACH use was defined by the 2015 Beers Criteria, and cognitive impairment was measured by the Six-Item Cognitive Screener. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed disparities in cognitive impairment with ACH use, iteratively adjusting for disparity parameters and other covariates. The full models included interaction terms between ACH use and other covariates. A similar approach was used for class-specific ACH exposure and cognitive impairment analyses. RESULTS Approximately 14% of the participants used at least 1 ACH listed in the Beers Criteria. Antidepressants were the most frequently prescribed ACH class. A significant sex-race interaction illustrated that females compared with males (in Blacks: odds ratio [OR] = 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10-1.49 and in Whites: OR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.74-2.20), especially White females (Black vs White: OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.64-0.80), were more likely to receive ACHs. Higher odds of cognitive impairment were observed among ACH users compared with the nonusers (OR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.01-1.58). In our class-level analyses, only antidepressant users (OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.14-2.25) showed a significant association with cognitive impairment in the fully adjusted model. CONCLUSIONS We observed demographic and socioeconomic differences in ACH use and in cognitive impairment, individually.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Motiur Rahman
- Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy (MMR, JQ, KG, RH), Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, AL; Department of Biostatistics (GH), Ryals School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; and Department of Mathematics and Statistics (AA), Auburn University, AL
| | - George Howard
- Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy (MMR, JQ, KG, RH), Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, AL; Department of Biostatistics (GH), Ryals School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; and Department of Mathematics and Statistics (AA), Auburn University, AL
| | - Jingjing Qian
- Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy (MMR, JQ, KG, RH), Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, AL; Department of Biostatistics (GH), Ryals School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; and Department of Mathematics and Statistics (AA), Auburn University, AL
| | - Kimberly Garza
- Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy (MMR, JQ, KG, RH), Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, AL; Department of Biostatistics (GH), Ryals School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; and Department of Mathematics and Statistics (AA), Auburn University, AL
| | - Ash Abebe
- Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy (MMR, JQ, KG, RH), Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, AL; Department of Biostatistics (GH), Ryals School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; and Department of Mathematics and Statistics (AA), Auburn University, AL
| | - Richard Hansen
- Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy (MMR, JQ, KG, RH), Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, AL; Department of Biostatistics (GH), Ryals School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; and Department of Mathematics and Statistics (AA), Auburn University, AL
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Lal BK, Meschia JF, Brott TG, Jones M, Aronow HD, Lackey A, Howard G. Race Differences in High-Grade Carotid Artery Stenosis. Stroke 2021; 52:2053-2059. [PMID: 33940957 PMCID: PMC8154708 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.120.032723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Background and Purpose Despite a higher incidence of stroke and a more adverse cardiovascular risk factor profile in Blacks and Hispanics compared with Whites, carotid artery revascularization is performed less frequently among these subpopulations. We assessed racial differences in high-grade (≥70% diameter-reducing) carotid stenosis. Methods Consecutive clients in a Nationwide Life Line for-Profit Service to screen for vascular disease, 2005 to 2019 were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. The prevalence of high-grade stenosis, defined by a carotid ultrasound peak systolic velocity of ≥230 cm/s, was assessed. Participants self-identified as White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, or other. Race/ethnic differences were assessed using Poisson regression. The number of individuals in the United States with high-grade stenosis was estimated by applying prevalence estimates to 2015 US Census population estimates. Results The prevalence of high-grade carotid stenosis was estimated in 6 130 481 individuals. The prevalence of high-grade stenosis was higher with increasing age in all race-sex strata. Generally, Blacks and Hispanics had a lower prevalence of high-grade stenosis compared with Whites, while Native Americans had a higher prevalence. For example, for men aged 55 to 65, the relative risk of stenosis compared with Whites was 0.40 (95% CI, 0.29–0.55) and 0.61 (95% CI, 0.46–0.81) for Blacks and Hispanics, respectively; and 1.53 (95% CI, 1.12–2.10) for Native Americans. When these prevalence estimates were applied to the Census estimates of the US population, an estimated 327 721 individuals have high-grade stenosis, of whom 7% are Black, 7% Hispanic, and 43% women. Conclusions Despite their having a more adverse cardiovascular risk profile, there was a lower prevalence of high-grade carotid artery stenosis for both the Black and Hispanic relative to the White clients. This lower prevalence of high-grade stenosis is a potential contributor to the lower use of carotid revascularization procedures in these minority populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brajesh K Lal
- University of Maryland School of Medicine and Baltimore VA Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
| | | | | | | | | | - Angelica Lackey
- University of Maryland School of Medicine and Baltimore VA Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
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Miller CE, Vasan RS. The southern rural health and mortality penalty: A review of regional health inequities in the United States. Soc Sci Med 2021; 268:113443. [PMID: 33137680 PMCID: PMC7755690 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Rural-urban differences in morbidity and mortality across the United States have been well documented and termed the "rural mortality penalty". However, research studies frequently treat rural areas as homogeneous and often do not account for geospatial variability in rural health risks by both county, state, region, race, and sex within the United States. Additionally, people living in the rural South of the US have higher rates of morbidity and mortality compared to both their urban counterparts and other rural areas. Of those living in southern rural communities, people of color experience higher rates of death and disease compared to white populations. Although there is a wealth of research that uses individual-level behaviors to explain rural-urban health disparities, there is less focus on how community and structural factors influence these differences. This review focuses on the "southern rural health penalty", a term coined by the authors, which refers to the high rate of mortality and morbidity in southern rural areas in the USA compared to both urban areas and non-southern rural places. We use macrosocial determinants of health to explain possible reasons for the "southern rural health penalty". This review can guide future research on rural health between southern and non-southern populations in the US and examine if macrosocial determinants of health can explain health disparities within southern rural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte E Miller
- Boston University School of Medicine, L510, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA, 02118, United States.
| | - Ramachandran S Vasan
- Boston University School of Medicine, L510, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA, 02118, United States.
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11
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Rahman MM, Howard G, Qian J, Garza K, Abebe A, Hansen R. Disparities in all-cause mortality with potentially inappropriate medication use: Analysis of the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) 2021; 61:44-52. [PMID: 32988759 PMCID: PMC7796934 DOI: 10.1016/j.japh.2020.08.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Health disparities across different socioeconomic subgroups have been reported in previous studies. Mortality with potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use may be subject to similar disparities. We aimed to assess the association between PIM use and all-cause mortality and the effect of disparity parameters (sex, race, income, education, and location of residence) on this relationship. METHODS This longitudinal cohort study included 26,399 U.S. adults aged 45 years and older from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, of which 13,475 participants were aged 65 years and older (recruited 2003-2007). PIM use and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) were identified through the 2015 Beers Criteria and a clinically significant DDIs list by the American Family Physicians, respectively. Cox regression was used to assess disparities in mortality with PIM use, iteratively adjusting for disparity parameters and other covariates. The full models included interaction terms between PIM use and other covariates. A similar method was used for the analyses of disparities in mortality with DDIs. RESULTS Approximately 87% of older adults used at least 1 drug listed in the Beers Criteria, and 3.8% of all participants used 2 or more drugs with DDIs. In the adjusted analysis, an increased risk of mortality was observed among whites with PIM use (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.27 [95% CI 1.10-1.47]). The higher mortality rate was observed among blacks without PIM use (1.34 [1.09-1.65]). Lower income and education were independent predictors for higher mortality. CONCLUSION Racial differences in all-cause mortality with PIM use were observed. Further research is needed to better understand the contributing factors of such disparities to develop appropriate interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Motiur Rahman
- Auburn University, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - George Howard
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Ryals School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jingjing Qian
- Auburn University, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Kimberly Garza
- Auburn University, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Ash Abebe
- Auburn University, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Richard Hansen
- Auburn University, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy, Auburn, AL, USA
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12
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Rahman M, Howard G, Qian J, Garza K, Abebe A, Hansen R. Disparities in the appropriateness of medication use: Analysis of the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) population-based cohort study. Res Social Adm Pharm 2020; 16:1702-1710. [PMID: 32098707 PMCID: PMC7438264 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior work has identified disparities in the quality and outcomes of healthcare across socioeconomic subgroups. Medication use may be subject to similar disparities. OBJECTIVE To assess the association between demographic and socioeconomic factors (gender, age, race, income, education, and rural or urban residence) and appropriateness of medication use. METHODS US adults aged ≥45 years (n = 26,798) from the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study were included in the analyses, of which 13,623 participants aged ≥65 years (recruited 2003-2007). Potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in older adults and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) were identified through 2015 Beers Criteria and clinically significant drug interactions list by Ament et al., respectively as measures of medication appropriateness. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association of disparity parameters with PIM use and DDIs. Interactions between race and other disparity variables were investigated. RESULTS Approximately 87% of the participants aged ≥65 years used at least one drug listed in the Beers Criteria, and 3.8% of all participants used two or more drugs with DDIs. Significant gender-race interaction across prescription-only drug users revealed that white females compared with white males (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.20-1.48) and black males compared with white males (OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.41-1.82) were more likely to receive PIM. Individuals with lower income and education also were more likely to use PIM in this sub-group. Females were less likely than males (female vs. male: OR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.48-0.63) and individuals resided in small rural areas as opposed to urban areas (small rural vs. urban: OR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.07-1.76) were more likely to have DDIs. CONCLUSION Demographic and socioeconomic disparities in PIM use and DDIs exist. Future studies should seek to better understand factors contributing to the disparities in order to guide development of interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motiur Rahman
- Auburn University, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy, Auburn, AL, USA.
| | - George Howard
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Ryals School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jingjing Qian
- Auburn University, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Kimberly Garza
- Auburn University, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Ash Abebe
- Auburn University, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Richard Hansen
- Auburn University, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy, Auburn, AL, USA.
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13
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Elkind MSV, Lisabeth L, Howard VJ, Kleindorfer D, Howard G. Approaches to Studying Determinants of Racial-Ethnic Disparities in Stroke and Its Sequelae. Stroke 2020; 51:3406-3416. [PMID: 33104476 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.120.030424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Disparities are differences in health outcomes among groups that originate from sources including historically experienced social injustice and broadly defined environmental exposures. Large health disparities exist, defined by many factors including race/ethnicity, sex, age, geography, and socioeconomic status. Studying disparities relies on measures of disease burden. Traditional measures, such as mortality, may be less applicable to neurological disorders, which often lead to substantial morbidity and lower quality of life, without necessarily causing death. Measures such as disability-adjusted life-years or healthy life expectancy may be more appropriate for assessing neurological disease and permit comparisons across diseases and communities. There are many approaches that can be used to study disparities. Analyses of population-based observational studies, patient registries, and administrative data all contribute to the understanding of disparities in humans. Animal and other experimental designs, including clinical trials, may be used to identify mechanisms and strategies to reduce disparities. All of these approaches have strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, understanding and mitigating disparities will require use of all of these methods. Crucially, a focus on not only improving outcomes among all individuals in society but minimizing or eliminating differences between those with better outcomes and those who have historically been disadvantaged should drive the ongoing investigations into disparities. This review is focused on epidemiological approaches to examining the depth and determinants of racial-ethnic disparities in the United States related to stroke, stroke care, and stroke outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell S V Elkind
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (M.S.V.E.), Columbia University, New York, NY.,Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health (M.S.V.E.), Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Lynda Lisabeth
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health (L.L.), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Virginia J Howard
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | - Dawn Kleindorfer
- Department of Neurology (D.K.), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - George Howard
- Department of Biostatistics, UAB School of Public Health (G.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham
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Mekonnen B, Wang G, Rajbhandari-Thapa J, Shi L, Thapa K, Zhang Z, Zhang D. Weekend Effect on in-Hospital Mortality for Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke in US Rural and Urban Hospitals. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2020; 29:105106. [PMID: 32912515 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.105106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Previous studies have reported a "weekend effect" on stroke mortality, whereby stroke patients admitted during weekends have a higher risk of in-hospital death than those admitted during weekdays. AIMS We aimed to investigate whether patients with different types of stroke admitted during weekends have a higher risk of in-hospital mortality in rural and urban hospitals in the US. METHODS We used data from the 2016 National Inpatient Sample and used logistic regression to assess in-hospital mortality for weekday and weekend admissions among stroke patients aged 18 and older by stroke type (ischemic or hemorrhagic) and rural or urban status. RESULTS Crude stroke mortality was higher in weekend admissions (p <0.001). After adjusting for confounding variables, in-hospital mortality among hemorrhagic stroke patients was significantly greater (22.0%) for weekend admissions compared to weekday admissions (20.2%, p = 0.009). Among rural hospitals, the in-hospital mortality among hemorrhagic stroke patients was also greater among weekend admissions (36.9%) compared to weekday admissions (25.7%, p = 0.040). Among urban hospitals, the mortality of hemorrhagic stroke patients was 21.1% for weekend and 19.6% for weekday admissions (p = 0.026). No weekend effect was found among ischemic stroke patients admitted to rural or urban hospitals. CONCLUSIONS Our results help to understand mortality differences in hemorrhagic stroke for weekend vs. weekday admissions in urban and rural hospitals. Factors such as density of care providers, stroke centers, and patient level risky behaviors associated with the weekend effect on hemorrhagic stroke mortality need further investigation to improve stroke care services and reduce weekend effect on hemorrhagic stroke mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birook Mekonnen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States.
| | - Guijing Wang
- Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States.
| | - Janani Rajbhandari-Thapa
- Department of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, 100 Foster Road, 205D Wright Hall, Athens, GA 30602, United States.
| | - Lu Shi
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States.
| | - Kiran Thapa
- Department of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, 100 Foster Road, 205D Wright Hall, Athens, GA 30602, United States.
| | - Zheng Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Donglan Zhang
- Department of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, 100 Foster Road, 205D Wright Hall, Athens, GA 30602, United States.
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15
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Sealy-Jefferson S, Roseland M, Cote ML, Lehman A, Whitsel EA, Booza J, Simon MS. Rural-Urban Residence and Stroke Risk and Severity in Postmenopausal Women: The Women's Health Initiative. WOMEN'S HEALTH REPORTS 2020; 1:326-333. [PMID: 33786496 PMCID: PMC7784801 DOI: 10.1089/whr.2020.0034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Background: The impact of rural–urban residence on stroke risk and poor stroke outcomes among postmenopausal women is unknown. Methods: We used data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) (1993–2014; n = 155,186) to test the hypothesis that women who live in rural compared with urban areas have higher stroke risk and worse stroke outcomes than urban women. We used rural–urban commuting area codes to categorize geocoded participant addresses into urban, large rural, or small rural areas. Incident strokes during follow-up were adjudicated by neurologists who used standardized criteria for reviewing brain imaging reports and other medical records and determining stroke subtype. Stroke functional recovery was measured with the Glasgow Stroke Outcomes Scale ascertained from the hospital record. We used univariable and multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models as well as logistic regression models to test whether rural–urban residence predicted stroke risk and odds of poor stroke outcome. Results: Among the 155,186 women in our cohort, 2.3% (n = 3514) had an incident stroke. We observed a modest reduction in risk of incident stroke among women who lived in urban (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 0.86, confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.71–1.05) and large rural areas (aHR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.60–1.04) compared with women who lived in small rural areas. In contrast, women who lived in urban compared with large rural areas had a similarly modest increased risk of stroke (aHR: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.89–1.32). Women who lived in urban compared with large rural areas were more likely to have poor stroke outcome (odds ratio [OR]: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.06–1.88), but the association was attenuated after adjustment for covariates (adjusted OR [aOR]: 1.27, 0.93–1.74). Conclusions: Future studies should confirm and examine the potential pathways of the reported associations among postmenopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawnita Sealy-Jefferson
- Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Molly Roseland
- Beaumont Hospital, Oakwood Campus, Dearborn, Michigan, USA
| | - Michele L Cote
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute Population Studies and Disparities Research Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Amy Lehman
- Center for Biostatistics, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Eric A Whitsel
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jason Booza
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Michael S Simon
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute Population Studies and Disparities Research Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
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16
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Wilcock AD, Zachrison KS, Schwamm LH, Uscher-Pines L, Zubizarreta JR, Mehrotra A. Trends Among Rural and Urban Medicare Beneficiaries in Care Delivery and Outcomes for Acute Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attacks, 2008-2017. JAMA Neurol 2020; 77:863-871. [PMID: 32364573 PMCID: PMC7358912 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.0770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Importance Over the last decade or so, there have been substantial investments in the development of stroke systems of care to improve access and quality of care in rural communities. Whether these have narrowed rural-urban disparities in care is unclear. Objective To describe trends among rural and urban patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack in the type of health care centers to which patients were admitted, what care was provided, and the outcomes patients experienced. Design, Setting, and Participants This descriptive observational study included 100% claims for beneficiaries of traditional fee-for-service Medicare from 2008 through 2017. All rural and urban areas in the US were included, defined by whether a beneficiary's residential zip code was in a metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area. All admissions in the US among patients with traditional Medicare who had a transient ischemic attack or acute stroke (N = 4.01 million) were eligible to be included in this study. Admissions for beneficiaries with end-stage kidney disease (n = 85 927 [2.14%]), beneficiaries with unidentified Rural-Urban Commuting Area codes (n = 12 797 [0.32%]), and beneficiaries not continuously enrolled in traditional Medicare in the 12 months before and 3 months after their admission (n = 442 963 [11.0%]) were excluded. Exposures Residence in an urban or rural area; admission to a hospital with a transient ischemic attack or acute stroke. Main Outcomes and Measures Discharge from a certified stroke center, receiving a neurology consultation during admission, treatment with alteplase, days institutionalized, and 90-day mortality. Results The final sample included 3.47 million admissions from 2008 through 2017. In this sample, 2.01 million patients (58.0%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 78.6 (10.5) years. In 2008, 24 681 patients (25.2%) and 161 217 patients (60.6%) in rural and urban areas, respectively, were cared for at a certified stroke center (disparity, -35.4%). By 2017, this disparity was -26.6%, having narrowed by 8.7 percentage points (95% CI, 6.6-10.8 percentage points). There was also narrowing in the rural-urban disparity in neurologist evaluation during admission (6.3% [95% CI, 4.2%-8.4%]). However, the rural-urban disparity widened or was similar with regard to receiving alteplase (0.5% [95% CI, 0.1%-0.8%]), mean days in an institution from admission (0.5 [95% CI, 0.2-0.8] days), and mortality at 90 days (0.3% [95% CI, -0.02% to 0.6%]), respectively. Conclusions and Relevance In the last decade, care for rural residents with acute ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack has shifted to certified stroke centers and now more likely includes neurologist input. However, disparities in access to treatments, such as alteplase, and outcomes persist, highlighting that work still is needed to extend improvements in stroke care to all US residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D. Wilcock
- Center for Health Services Research, Department of Family Medicine, The Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington
| | - Kori S. Zachrison
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Lee H. Schwamm
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Jose R. Zubizarreta
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ateev Mehrotra
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
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17
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Affiliation(s)
- George Howard
- From the Department of Biostatistics (G.H.), School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | - Virginia J. Howard
- Department of Epidemiology (V.J.H.), School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham
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18
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Howard G, Schwamm LH, Donnelly JP, Howard VJ, Jasne A, Smith EE, Rhodes JD, Kissela BM, Fonarow GC, Kleindorfer DO, Albright KC. Participation in Get With The Guidelines-Stroke and Its Association With Quality of Care for Stroke. JAMA Neurol 2019; 75:1331-1337. [PMID: 30083763 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.2101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Importance Get With The Guidelines-Stroke (GWTG-Stroke) is an American Heart Association/American Stroke Association stroke-care quality-improvement program; however, to our knowledge, there has not been a direct comparison of the quality of care between patients hospitalized at participating hospitals and those at nonparticipating hospitals. Objective To contrast quality of stroke care measures for patients admitted to hospitals participating and not participating in GWTG-Stroke. Design, Setting, and Participants Subpopulation of 546 participants with ischemic stroke occurring during a 9-year follow-up of the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study, a population-based cohort study of 30 239 randomly selected black and white participants 45 years and older recruited between 2003 and 2007. Of those with stroke, 207 (36%) were treated in a hospital participating in GWTG-Stroke and 339 in a nonparticipating hospital. Data were analyzed between July 29, 2017, and April 17, 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures Quality of care measures including use of tissue plasminogen activator, performance of swallowing evaluation, antithrombotic use in first 48 hours, lipid profile assessment, discharge receiving antithrombotic therapy, discharge receiving a statin, neurologist evaluation, providing weight loss and exercise counseling, education on stroke risk factors and warning signs, and assessment for rehabilitation. Results Participants treated at participating hospitals had a mean (SD) age of 74 (8) years and 100 of 207 were men (48%), while those seen at nonparticipating hospitals had a mean (SD) age of 73 (9) years, and 161 of 339 were men (48%). Those seen in participating hospitals were more likely to receive 5 of 10 evidence-based interventions recommended for patients hospitalized with ischemic stroke, including receiving tissue plasminogen activator (RR, 3.74; 95% CI, 1.65-8.50), education on risk factors (RR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.16-2.05), having an evaluation for swallowing (RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.04-1.50), a lipid evaluation (RR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.05-1.32), and an evaluation by a neurologist (RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.05-1.20). Those seen in participating hospitals received a mean of 5.4 (95% CI, 5.2-5.6) interventions compared with 4.8 (95% CI, 4.6-5.0) in nonparticipating hospitals (P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance These data collected independently of the GWTG-Stroke program document improved stroke care for patients with ischemic stroke hospitalized at participating hospitals.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Howard
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | - Lee H Schwamm
- Comprehensive Stroke Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - John P Donnelly
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | - Virginia J Howard
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | - Adam Jasne
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Eric E Smith
- Department of Neurology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - J David Rhodes
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | - Brett M Kissela
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Gregg C Fonarow
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles.,Section Editor
| | - Dawn O Kleindorfer
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Karen C Albright
- Section Editor.,Center for Global Health and Traslational Science, Department of Neurology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York
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19
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Fleet R, Bussières S, Tounkara FK, Turcotte S, Légaré F, Plant J, Poitras J, Archambault PM, Dupuis G. Rural versus urban academic hospital mortality following stroke in Canada. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191151. [PMID: 29385173 PMCID: PMC5791969 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in Canada. While stroke care has improved dramatically over the last decade, outcomes following stroke among patients treated in rural hospitals have not yet been reported in Canada. Objectives To describe variation in 30-day post-stroke in-hospital mortality rates between rural and urban academic hospitals in Canada. We also examined 24/7 in-hospital access to CT scanners and selected services in rural hospitals. Materials and methods We included Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) data on adjusted 30-day in-hospital mortality following stroke from 2007 to 2011 for all acute care hospitals in Canada excluding Quebec and the Territories. We categorized rural hospitals as those located in rural small towns providing 24/7 emergency physician coverage with inpatient beds. Urban hospitals were academic centres designated as Level 1 or 2 trauma centres. We computed descriptive data on local access to a CT scanner and other services and compared mean 30-day adjusted post-stroke mortality rates for rural and urban hospitals to the overall Canadian rate. Results A total of 286 rural hospitals (3.4 million emergency department (ED) visits/year) and 24 urban hospitals (1.5 million ED visits/year) met inclusion criteria. From 2007 to 2011, 30-day in-hospital mortality rates following stroke were significantly higher in rural than in urban hospitals and higher than the Canadian average for every year except 2008 (rural average range = 18.26 to 21.04 and urban average range = 14.11 to 16.78). Only 11% of rural hospitals had a CT-scanner, 1% had MRI, 21% had in-hospital ICU, 94% had laboratory and 92% had basic x-ray facilities. Conclusion Rural hospitals in Canada had higher 30-day in-hospital mortality rates following stroke than urban academic hospitals and the Canadian average. Rural hospitals also have very limited local access to CT scanners and ICUs. These rural/urban discrepancies are cause for concern in the context of Canada’s universal health care system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Fleet
- Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Research Chair in Emergency Medicine Université Laval-CHAU Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis, Lévis, QC, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Sylvain Bussières
- Research Chair in Emergency Medicine Université Laval-CHAU Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis, Lévis, QC, Canada
| | | | - Stéphane Turcotte
- Population Health and Practice-Changing Research Group, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - France Légaré
- Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine and Knowledge Transfer and Health Technology Assessment Group, CHU de Québec Research Centre and Evaluative Research Unit, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Jeff Plant
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia and Department of Emergency Medicine, Penticton Regional Hospital, Penticton, BC, Canada
| | - Julien Poitras
- Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Research Chair in Emergency Medicine Université Laval-CHAU Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis, Lévis, QC, Canada
| | - Patrick M. Archambault
- Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Research Chair in Emergency Medicine Université Laval-CHAU Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis, Lévis, QC, Canada
- Intensive Care Division, Department of Anesthesiology, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Gilles Dupuis
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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20
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Sheffet AJ, Howard G, Sam A, Jamil Z, Weaver F, Chiu D, Voeks JH, Howard VJ, Hughes SE, Flaxman L, Longbottom ME, Brott TG. Challenge and Yield of Enrolling Racially and Ethnically Diverse Patient Populations in Low Event Rate Clinical Trials. Stroke 2017; 49:84-89. [PMID: 29191852 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.117.018063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We report patient enrollment and retention by race and ethnicity in the CREST (Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy Versus Stent Trial) and assess potential effect modification by race/ethnicity. In addition, we discuss the challenge of detecting differences in study outcomes when subgroups are small and the event rate is low. METHODS We compared 2502 patients by race, ethnicity, baseline characteristics, and primary outcome (any periprocedural stroke, death, or myocardial infarction and subsequent ipsilateral stroke up to 10 years). RESULTS Two hundred forty (9.7%) patients were minority by race (6.1%) or ethnicity (3.6%); 109 patients (4.4%) were black, 32 (1.3%) Asian, 2332 (93.4%) white, 11 (0.4%) other, and 18 (0.7%) unknown. Ninety (3.6%) were Hispanic, 2377 (95%) non-Hispanic, and 35 (1.4%) unknown. The rate of the primary end point for all patients was 10.9%±0.9% at 10 years and did not differ by race or ethnicity (Pinter>0.24). CONCLUSIONS The proportion of minorities recruited to CREST was below their representation in the general population, and retention of minority patients was lower than for whites. Primary outcomes did not differ by race or ethnicity. However, in CREST (like other studies), the lack of evidence of a racial/ethnic difference in the treatment effect should be interpreted with caution because of low statistical power to detect such a difference. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00004732.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice J Sheffet
- From the Department of Surgery, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Newark (A.J.S., S.E.H., L.F., T.G.B.); Departments of Biostatistics (G.H.) and Epidemiology, School of Public Health (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Vascular Surgery, Southern Connecticut Vascular Center, Middletown Hospital (A.S.); Section of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael's Medical Center, Newark, NJ (Z.J.); Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Keck Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (F.W.); Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, TX (D.C); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (J.H.V.); and Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville (M.E.L., T.G.B.)
| | - George Howard
- From the Department of Surgery, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Newark (A.J.S., S.E.H., L.F., T.G.B.); Departments of Biostatistics (G.H.) and Epidemiology, School of Public Health (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Vascular Surgery, Southern Connecticut Vascular Center, Middletown Hospital (A.S.); Section of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael's Medical Center, Newark, NJ (Z.J.); Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Keck Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (F.W.); Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, TX (D.C); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (J.H.V.); and Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville (M.E.L., T.G.B.)
| | - Albert Sam
- From the Department of Surgery, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Newark (A.J.S., S.E.H., L.F., T.G.B.); Departments of Biostatistics (G.H.) and Epidemiology, School of Public Health (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Vascular Surgery, Southern Connecticut Vascular Center, Middletown Hospital (A.S.); Section of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael's Medical Center, Newark, NJ (Z.J.); Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Keck Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (F.W.); Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, TX (D.C); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (J.H.V.); and Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville (M.E.L., T.G.B.)
| | - Zafar Jamil
- From the Department of Surgery, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Newark (A.J.S., S.E.H., L.F., T.G.B.); Departments of Biostatistics (G.H.) and Epidemiology, School of Public Health (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Vascular Surgery, Southern Connecticut Vascular Center, Middletown Hospital (A.S.); Section of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael's Medical Center, Newark, NJ (Z.J.); Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Keck Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (F.W.); Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, TX (D.C); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (J.H.V.); and Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville (M.E.L., T.G.B.)
| | - Fred Weaver
- From the Department of Surgery, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Newark (A.J.S., S.E.H., L.F., T.G.B.); Departments of Biostatistics (G.H.) and Epidemiology, School of Public Health (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Vascular Surgery, Southern Connecticut Vascular Center, Middletown Hospital (A.S.); Section of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael's Medical Center, Newark, NJ (Z.J.); Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Keck Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (F.W.); Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, TX (D.C); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (J.H.V.); and Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville (M.E.L., T.G.B.)
| | - David Chiu
- From the Department of Surgery, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Newark (A.J.S., S.E.H., L.F., T.G.B.); Departments of Biostatistics (G.H.) and Epidemiology, School of Public Health (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Vascular Surgery, Southern Connecticut Vascular Center, Middletown Hospital (A.S.); Section of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael's Medical Center, Newark, NJ (Z.J.); Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Keck Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (F.W.); Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, TX (D.C); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (J.H.V.); and Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville (M.E.L., T.G.B.)
| | - Jenifer H Voeks
- From the Department of Surgery, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Newark (A.J.S., S.E.H., L.F., T.G.B.); Departments of Biostatistics (G.H.) and Epidemiology, School of Public Health (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Vascular Surgery, Southern Connecticut Vascular Center, Middletown Hospital (A.S.); Section of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael's Medical Center, Newark, NJ (Z.J.); Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Keck Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (F.W.); Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, TX (D.C); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (J.H.V.); and Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville (M.E.L., T.G.B.)
| | - Virginia J Howard
- From the Department of Surgery, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Newark (A.J.S., S.E.H., L.F., T.G.B.); Departments of Biostatistics (G.H.) and Epidemiology, School of Public Health (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Vascular Surgery, Southern Connecticut Vascular Center, Middletown Hospital (A.S.); Section of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael's Medical Center, Newark, NJ (Z.J.); Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Keck Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (F.W.); Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, TX (D.C); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (J.H.V.); and Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville (M.E.L., T.G.B.)
| | - Susan E Hughes
- From the Department of Surgery, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Newark (A.J.S., S.E.H., L.F., T.G.B.); Departments of Biostatistics (G.H.) and Epidemiology, School of Public Health (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Vascular Surgery, Southern Connecticut Vascular Center, Middletown Hospital (A.S.); Section of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael's Medical Center, Newark, NJ (Z.J.); Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Keck Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (F.W.); Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, TX (D.C); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (J.H.V.); and Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville (M.E.L., T.G.B.)
| | - Linda Flaxman
- From the Department of Surgery, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Newark (A.J.S., S.E.H., L.F., T.G.B.); Departments of Biostatistics (G.H.) and Epidemiology, School of Public Health (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Vascular Surgery, Southern Connecticut Vascular Center, Middletown Hospital (A.S.); Section of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael's Medical Center, Newark, NJ (Z.J.); Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Keck Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (F.W.); Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, TX (D.C); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (J.H.V.); and Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville (M.E.L., T.G.B.)
| | - Mary E Longbottom
- From the Department of Surgery, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Newark (A.J.S., S.E.H., L.F., T.G.B.); Departments of Biostatistics (G.H.) and Epidemiology, School of Public Health (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Vascular Surgery, Southern Connecticut Vascular Center, Middletown Hospital (A.S.); Section of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael's Medical Center, Newark, NJ (Z.J.); Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Keck Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (F.W.); Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, TX (D.C); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (J.H.V.); and Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville (M.E.L., T.G.B.)
| | - Thomas G Brott
- From the Department of Surgery, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Newark (A.J.S., S.E.H., L.F., T.G.B.); Departments of Biostatistics (G.H.) and Epidemiology, School of Public Health (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Vascular Surgery, Southern Connecticut Vascular Center, Middletown Hospital (A.S.); Section of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael's Medical Center, Newark, NJ (Z.J.); Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Keck Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (F.W.); Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, TX (D.C); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (J.H.V.); and Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville (M.E.L., T.G.B.).
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Carnethon MR, Pu J, Howard G, Albert MA, Anderson CAM, Bertoni AG, Mujahid MS, Palaniappan L, Taylor HA, Willis M, Yancy CW. Cardiovascular Health in African Americans: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation 2017; 136:e393-e423. [PMID: 29061565 DOI: 10.1161/cir.0000000000000534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 679] [Impact Index Per Article: 97.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Population-wide reductions in cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality have not been shared equally by African Americans. The burden of cardiovascular disease in the African American community remains high and is a primary cause of disparities in life expectancy between African Americans and whites. The objectives of the present scientific statement are to describe cardiovascular health in African Americans and to highlight unique considerations for disease prevention and management. METHOD The primary sources of information were identified with PubMed/Medline and online sources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RESULTS The higher prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors (eg, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk) underlies the relatively earlier age of onset of cardiovascular diseases among African Americans. Hypertension in particular is highly prevalent among African Americans and contributes directly to the notable disparities in stroke, heart failure, and peripheral artery disease among African Americans. Despite the availability of effective pharmacotherapies and indications for some tailored pharmacotherapies for African Americans (eg, heart failure medications), disease management is less effective among African Americans, yielding higher mortality. Explanations for these persistent disparities in cardiovascular disease are multifactorial and span from the individual level to the social environment. CONCLUSIONS The strategies needed to promote equity in the cardiovascular health of African Americans require input from a broad set of stakeholders, including clinicians and researchers from across multiple disciplines.
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Howard G, Kleindorfer DO, Cushman M, Long DL, Jasne A, Judd SE, Higginbotham JC, Howard VJ. Contributors to the Excess Stroke Mortality in Rural Areas in the United States. Stroke 2017; 48:1773-1778. [PMID: 28626048 PMCID: PMC5502731 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.117.017089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Stroke mortality is 30% higher in the rural United States. This could be because of either higher incidence or higher case fatality from stroke in rural areas. METHODS The urban-rural status of 23 280 stroke-free participants recruited between 2003 and 2007 in the REGARDS study (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) was classified using the Rural-Urban Commuting Area scheme as residing in urban, large rural town/city, or small rural town or isolated areas. The risk of incident stroke was assessed using proportional hazards analysis, and case fatality (death within 30 days of stroke) was assessed using logistic regression. Models were adjusted for demographics, traditional stroke risk factors, and measures of socioeconomic status. RESULTS After adjustment for demographic factors and relative to urban areas, stroke incidence was 1.23-times higher (95% confidence intervals, 1.01-1.51) in large rural town/cities and 1.30-times higher (95% confidence intervals, 1.03-1.62) in small rural towns or isolated areas. Adjustment for risk factors and socioeconomic status only modestly attenuated this association, and the association became marginally nonsignificant (P=0.071). There was no association of rural-urban status with case fatality (P>0.47). CONCLUSIONS The higher stroke mortality in rural regions seemed to be attributable to higher stroke incidence rather than case fatality. A higher prevalence of risk factors and lower socioeconomic status only modestly contributed to the increased risk of incident stroke risk in rural areas. There was no evidence of higher case fatality in rural areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Howard
- From the Department of Biostatistics (G.H., D.L.L., S.E.J.) and Department of Epidemiology (V.J.H.), School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., A.J.); Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington (M.C.); and College of Community Health Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (J.C.H.).
| | - Dawn O Kleindorfer
- From the Department of Biostatistics (G.H., D.L.L., S.E.J.) and Department of Epidemiology (V.J.H.), School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., A.J.); Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington (M.C.); and College of Community Health Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (J.C.H.)
| | - Mary Cushman
- From the Department of Biostatistics (G.H., D.L.L., S.E.J.) and Department of Epidemiology (V.J.H.), School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., A.J.); Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington (M.C.); and College of Community Health Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (J.C.H.)
| | - D Leann Long
- From the Department of Biostatistics (G.H., D.L.L., S.E.J.) and Department of Epidemiology (V.J.H.), School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., A.J.); Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington (M.C.); and College of Community Health Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (J.C.H.)
| | - Adam Jasne
- From the Department of Biostatistics (G.H., D.L.L., S.E.J.) and Department of Epidemiology (V.J.H.), School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., A.J.); Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington (M.C.); and College of Community Health Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (J.C.H.)
| | - Suzanne E Judd
- From the Department of Biostatistics (G.H., D.L.L., S.E.J.) and Department of Epidemiology (V.J.H.), School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., A.J.); Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington (M.C.); and College of Community Health Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (J.C.H.)
| | - John C Higginbotham
- From the Department of Biostatistics (G.H., D.L.L., S.E.J.) and Department of Epidemiology (V.J.H.), School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., A.J.); Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington (M.C.); and College of Community Health Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (J.C.H.)
| | - Virginia J Howard
- From the Department of Biostatistics (G.H., D.L.L., S.E.J.) and Department of Epidemiology (V.J.H.), School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., A.J.); Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington (M.C.); and College of Community Health Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (J.C.H.)
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Howard G, Moy CS, Howard VJ, McClure LA, Kleindorfer DO, Kissela BM, Judd SE, Unverzagt FW, Soliman EZ, Safford MM, Cushman M, Flaherty ML, Wadley VG. Where to Focus Efforts to Reduce the Black-White Disparity in Stroke Mortality: Incidence Versus Case Fatality? Stroke 2016; 47:1893-8. [PMID: 27256672 PMCID: PMC4927373 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.115.012631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE At age 45 years, blacks have a stroke mortality ≈3× greater than their white counterparts, with a declining disparity at older ages. We assess whether this black-white disparity in stroke mortality is attributable to a black-white disparity in stroke incidence versus a disparity in case fatality. METHODS We first assess if black-white differences in stroke mortality within 29 681 participants in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort reflect national black-white differences in stroke mortality and then assess the degree to which black-white differences in stroke incidence or 30-day case fatality after stroke contribute to the disparities in stroke mortality. RESULTS The pattern of stroke mortality within the study mirrors the national pattern, with the black-to-white hazard ratio of ≈4.0 at age 45 years decreasing to ≈1.0 at age 85 years. The pattern of black-to-white disparities in stroke incidence shows a similar pattern but no evidence of a corresponding disparity in stroke case fatality. CONCLUSIONS These findings show that the black-white differences in stroke mortality are largely driven by differences in stroke incidence, with case fatality playing at most a minor role. Therefore, to reduce the black-white disparity in stroke mortality, interventions need to focus on prevention of stroke in blacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Howard
- From the Departments of Biostatistics (G.H., S.E.J.) and Epidemiology (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health; Office of Clinical Research, NINDS/NIH, Bethesda, MD (C.S.M.); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (L.A.M.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., B.M.K., M.L.F.); Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Indianapolis (F.W.U.); Department of Epidemiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (E.Z.S.); Department of General Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell School of Medicine, New York, NY (M.M.S., V.G.W.); and Department of Medicine, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Burlington (M.C.).
| | - Claudia S Moy
- From the Departments of Biostatistics (G.H., S.E.J.) and Epidemiology (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health; Office of Clinical Research, NINDS/NIH, Bethesda, MD (C.S.M.); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (L.A.M.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., B.M.K., M.L.F.); Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Indianapolis (F.W.U.); Department of Epidemiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (E.Z.S.); Department of General Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell School of Medicine, New York, NY (M.M.S., V.G.W.); and Department of Medicine, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Burlington (M.C.)
| | - Virginia J Howard
- From the Departments of Biostatistics (G.H., S.E.J.) and Epidemiology (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health; Office of Clinical Research, NINDS/NIH, Bethesda, MD (C.S.M.); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (L.A.M.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., B.M.K., M.L.F.); Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Indianapolis (F.W.U.); Department of Epidemiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (E.Z.S.); Department of General Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell School of Medicine, New York, NY (M.M.S., V.G.W.); and Department of Medicine, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Burlington (M.C.)
| | - Leslie A McClure
- From the Departments of Biostatistics (G.H., S.E.J.) and Epidemiology (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health; Office of Clinical Research, NINDS/NIH, Bethesda, MD (C.S.M.); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (L.A.M.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., B.M.K., M.L.F.); Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Indianapolis (F.W.U.); Department of Epidemiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (E.Z.S.); Department of General Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell School of Medicine, New York, NY (M.M.S., V.G.W.); and Department of Medicine, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Burlington (M.C.)
| | - Dawn O Kleindorfer
- From the Departments of Biostatistics (G.H., S.E.J.) and Epidemiology (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health; Office of Clinical Research, NINDS/NIH, Bethesda, MD (C.S.M.); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (L.A.M.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., B.M.K., M.L.F.); Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Indianapolis (F.W.U.); Department of Epidemiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (E.Z.S.); Department of General Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell School of Medicine, New York, NY (M.M.S., V.G.W.); and Department of Medicine, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Burlington (M.C.)
| | - Brett M Kissela
- From the Departments of Biostatistics (G.H., S.E.J.) and Epidemiology (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health; Office of Clinical Research, NINDS/NIH, Bethesda, MD (C.S.M.); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (L.A.M.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., B.M.K., M.L.F.); Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Indianapolis (F.W.U.); Department of Epidemiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (E.Z.S.); Department of General Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell School of Medicine, New York, NY (M.M.S., V.G.W.); and Department of Medicine, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Burlington (M.C.)
| | - Suzanne E Judd
- From the Departments of Biostatistics (G.H., S.E.J.) and Epidemiology (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health; Office of Clinical Research, NINDS/NIH, Bethesda, MD (C.S.M.); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (L.A.M.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., B.M.K., M.L.F.); Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Indianapolis (F.W.U.); Department of Epidemiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (E.Z.S.); Department of General Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell School of Medicine, New York, NY (M.M.S., V.G.W.); and Department of Medicine, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Burlington (M.C.)
| | - Fredrick W Unverzagt
- From the Departments of Biostatistics (G.H., S.E.J.) and Epidemiology (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health; Office of Clinical Research, NINDS/NIH, Bethesda, MD (C.S.M.); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (L.A.M.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., B.M.K., M.L.F.); Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Indianapolis (F.W.U.); Department of Epidemiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (E.Z.S.); Department of General Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell School of Medicine, New York, NY (M.M.S., V.G.W.); and Department of Medicine, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Burlington (M.C.)
| | - Elsayed Z Soliman
- From the Departments of Biostatistics (G.H., S.E.J.) and Epidemiology (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health; Office of Clinical Research, NINDS/NIH, Bethesda, MD (C.S.M.); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (L.A.M.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., B.M.K., M.L.F.); Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Indianapolis (F.W.U.); Department of Epidemiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (E.Z.S.); Department of General Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell School of Medicine, New York, NY (M.M.S., V.G.W.); and Department of Medicine, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Burlington (M.C.)
| | - Monika M Safford
- From the Departments of Biostatistics (G.H., S.E.J.) and Epidemiology (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health; Office of Clinical Research, NINDS/NIH, Bethesda, MD (C.S.M.); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (L.A.M.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., B.M.K., M.L.F.); Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Indianapolis (F.W.U.); Department of Epidemiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (E.Z.S.); Department of General Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell School of Medicine, New York, NY (M.M.S., V.G.W.); and Department of Medicine, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Burlington (M.C.)
| | - Mary Cushman
- From the Departments of Biostatistics (G.H., S.E.J.) and Epidemiology (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health; Office of Clinical Research, NINDS/NIH, Bethesda, MD (C.S.M.); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (L.A.M.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., B.M.K., M.L.F.); Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Indianapolis (F.W.U.); Department of Epidemiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (E.Z.S.); Department of General Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell School of Medicine, New York, NY (M.M.S., V.G.W.); and Department of Medicine, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Burlington (M.C.)
| | - Matthew L Flaherty
- From the Departments of Biostatistics (G.H., S.E.J.) and Epidemiology (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health; Office of Clinical Research, NINDS/NIH, Bethesda, MD (C.S.M.); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (L.A.M.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., B.M.K., M.L.F.); Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Indianapolis (F.W.U.); Department of Epidemiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (E.Z.S.); Department of General Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell School of Medicine, New York, NY (M.M.S., V.G.W.); and Department of Medicine, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Burlington (M.C.)
| | - Virginia G Wadley
- From the Departments of Biostatistics (G.H., S.E.J.) and Epidemiology (V.J.H.), University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health; Office of Clinical Research, NINDS/NIH, Bethesda, MD (C.S.M.); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (L.A.M.); Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, OH (D.O.K., B.M.K., M.L.F.); Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Indianapolis (F.W.U.); Department of Epidemiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (E.Z.S.); Department of General Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell School of Medicine, New York, NY (M.M.S., V.G.W.); and Department of Medicine, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Burlington (M.C.)
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The association between rural residence and stroke care and outcomes. J Neurol Sci 2016; 363:16-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2016.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Revised: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Howard G, Howard VJ. Stroke Disparities. Stroke 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-29544-4.00014-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Mensah GA, Sacco RL, Vickrey BG, Sampson UK, Waddy S, Ovbiagele B, Pandian JD, Norrving B, Feigin VL. From Data to Action: Neuroepidemiology Informs Implementation Research for Global Stroke Prevention and Treatment. Neuroepidemiology 2015; 45:221-9. [PMID: 26505615 PMCID: PMC4633278 DOI: 10.1159/000441105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
As a scientific field of study, neuroepidemiology encompasses more than just the descriptive study of the frequency, distribution, determinants and outcomes of neurologic diseases in populations. It also includes experimental aspects that span the full spectrum of clinical and population science research. As such, neuroepidemiology has a strong potential to inform implementation research for global stroke prevention and treatment. This review begins with an overview of the progress that has been made in descriptive and experimental neuroepidemiology over the past quarter century with emphasis on standards for evidence generation, critical appraisal of that evidence and impact on clinical and public health practice at the national, regional and global levels. Specific advances made in high-income countries as well as in low- and middle-income countries are presented. Gaps in implementation as well as evidence gaps in stroke research, stroke burden, clinical outcomes and disparities between developed and developing countries are then described. The continuing need for high quality neuroepidemiologic data in low- and middle-income countries is highlighted. Additionally, persisting disparities in stroke burden and care by sex, race, ethnicity, income and socioeconomic status are discussed. The crucial role that national stroke registries have played in neuroepidemiologic research is also addressed. Opportunities presented by new directions in comparative effectiveness and implementation research are discussed as avenues for turning neuroepidemiological insights into action to maximize health impact and to guide further biomedical research on neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- George A. Mensah
- Center for Translation Research and Implementation Science, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ralph L. Sacco
- Departments of Neurology, Public Health Sciences, Human Genomics, and Neurosurgery; Evelyn McKnight Brain Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Barbara G. Vickrey
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles; Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Uchechukwu K.A. Sampson
- Center for Translation Research and Implementation Science, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Salina Waddy
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Bruce Ovbiagele
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Jeyaraj D. Pandian
- Department of Neurology, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Bo Norrving
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Neurology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Valery L. Feigin
- National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, School of Rehabilitation and Occupation Studies, School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies, Faculty of Health and Environmental Studies, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
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Howard G, Peace F, Howard VJ. The contributions of selected diseases to disparities in death rates and years of life lost for racial/ethnic minorities in the United States, 1999-2010. Prev Chronic Dis 2014; 11:E129. [PMID: 25078566 PMCID: PMC4124043 DOI: 10.5888/pcd11.140138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Differences in risk for death from diseases and other causes among racial/ethnic groups likely contributed to the limited improvement in the state of health in the United States in the last few decades. The objective of this study was to identify causes of death that are the largest contributors to health disparities among racial/ethnic groups. METHODS Using data from WONDER system, we measured the relative (age-adjusted mortality ratio [AAMR]) and absolute (difference in years of life lost [dYLL]) differences in mortality risk between the non-Hispanic white population and the black, Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Asian/Pacific Islander populations for the 25 leading causes of death. RESULTS Many causes contributed to disparities between non-Hispanic whites and blacks, led by assault (AAMR, 7.56; dYLL, 4.5 million). Malignant neoplasms were the second largest absolute contributor (dYLL, 3.8 million) to black-white disparities; we also found substantial relative and absolute differences for several cardiovascular diseases. Only assault, diabetes, and diseases of the liver contributed substantially to disparities between non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics (AAMR ≥ 1.65; dYLL ≥ 325,000). Many causes of death, led by assault (AAMR, 3.25; dYLL, 98,000), contributed to disparities between non-Hispanic whites and American Indians/Alaska Natives; Asian/Pacific Islanders did not have a higher risk than non-Hispanic whites for death from any disease. CONCLUSION Assault was a substantial contributor to disparities in mortality among non-Asian racial/ethnic minority populations. Research and intervention resources need to target diseases (such as diabetes and diseases of the liver) that affect certain racial/ethnic populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Howard
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022. E-mail:
| | - Frederick Peace
- School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Virginia J Howard
- School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
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Affiliation(s)
- George Howard
- From the Department of Biostatistics, UAB School of Public Health, Birmingham, AL (G.H.); and Neurologische Klinik, Klinikum Ludwigshafen aRh, Ludwigshafen aRh, Germany (A.G.)
| | - Armin Grau
- From the Department of Biostatistics, UAB School of Public Health, Birmingham, AL (G.H.); and Neurologische Klinik, Klinikum Ludwigshafen aRh, Ludwigshafen aRh, Germany (A.G.)
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