Do the Brain Attack Coalition's criteria for stroke centers improve care for ischemic stroke?

Length of Hospitalization and Mortality among Stroke Patients before and after the Implementation of a Specialized Unit: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using Real-World Data from One Reference Hospital in Southern Brazil

Stroke constitutes a significant global cause of mortality and disability. The implementation of stroke units influences hospital quality indicators, guiding care management. We aimed to compare hospital length of stay (LOS), in-hospital mortality, and post-discharge mortality between stroke patients admitted in the pre- and post-implementation periods of a stroke unit in a public hospital in southern Brazil. This retrospective cohort study used real-world data from one reference hospital, focusing on the intervention (stroke unit) and comparing it to the general ward (control). We analyzed the electronic medical records of 674 patients admitted from 2009 to 2012 in the general ward and 766 patients from 2013 to 2018 in the stroke unit. Admission to the stroke unit was associated with a 43% reduction in the likelihood of prolonged hospitalization. However, there was no significant difference in the risk of in-hospital mortality between the groups (Hazard ratio = 0.90; Interquartile range = 0.58 to 1.39). The incidence of death at three, six and twelve months post-discharge did not differ between the groups. Our study results indicate significant improvements in care processes for SU patients, including shorter LOS and better adherence to treatment protocols. However, our observations revealed no significant difference in mortality rates, either during hospitalization or after discharge, between the SU and GW groups. While SU implementation enhances efficiency in stroke care, further research is needed to explore long-term outcomes and optimize management strategies.

GRP per capita and hospital characteristics associated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator adherence rate: evidence from the Chinese Stroke Center Alliance

Background

Timely delivery of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV-rt PA) is pivotal to eligible patients who had a stroke while achieving higher rates of IV-rt PA has been problematic. This paper focuses on investigating influential factors associated with the administration of IV-rt PA, primarily per capita gross regional product (GRP) and healthcare system factors.

Methods

The study included 980 hospitals in the Chinese Stroke Center Alliance where 158 003 patients who had an acute ischaemic stroke received IV-rt PA between August 2015 and August 2019. The adherence rate to IV-rt PA within 4.5 hours time window in each hospital was the primary outcome. Influential factors were grouped into two categories: macroeconomic status and hospital characteristics. The outcome was analysed using multivariable linear regression.

Results

GRP per capita (β=2.37, p<0.001), hospital stroke centre certification (β=3.77, p<0.001), number of neurologists (β=0.12, p<0.001), existence of emergency services for neurological treatment (β=7.43, p=0.014), presence of emergency department (β=10.03, p=0.019) and cooperating with emergency centre (β=4.65, p=0.029) were significantly positively associated with the adherence rate to IV-rt PA.

Conclusions

Higher GRP per capita, affluent neurological personnel, well-equipped emergency services for neurological treatment and routine cooperation with the emergency centre were important for enhancing the adherence rate to IV-rt PA among patients who had an acute ischaemic stroke in China.

Acute ischemic stroke: improving access to intravenous tissue plasminogen activator

INTRODUCTION

Since approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 1996, alteplase utilization rates for acute ischemic stroke have increased. Despite its efficacy for improving stroke outcomes, however, the majority of ischemic stroke patients still do not receive alteplase. To address this issue, different methods for improving access to alteplase have been tested with varying degrees of success.

AREAS COVERED

This article gives an overview of the recent approaches pursued to improve access to alteplase for acute ischemic stroke patients. Utilization of stroke systems of care, quality metrics, and quality-improvement initiatives to improve alteplase treatment rates are discussed. The implementation of Telestroke networks to improve access and timely evaluation by a stroke specialist are also reviewed. Lastly, this review discusses the use of neuroimaging techniques to identify alteplase candidates in stroke of unknown symptom onset or beyond the 4.5-h treatment window.

EXPERT COMMENTARY

Expanding access to alteplase therapy for acute ischemic stroke is a multi-faceted approach. Specific considerations based on region, population, and health-care resources should be considered for each strategy. Neuroimaging approaches to identify alteplase-eligible patients beyond the 4.5-h treatment window are a recent development in acute stroke care that holds promise for increasing alteplase treatment rates.

Tokyo Metropolitan Stroke Emergency Medical Services for Interventional Stroke Treatment: The Tama-REgistry of Acute Thrombectomy (TREAT) Study

OBJECTIVE

It is not clear how patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) who have undergone mechanical thrombectomy (MT) were transported to hospitals by emergency medical services. Here, we describe the current status of the stroke delivery system in a large city.

METHODS

We investigated data from 328 patients (male, n = 199; average age, 74.8 ± 12.9 years) who underwent MT at 12 facilities in the Tama area of Tokyo, between January 2015 and December 2017. The patients were classified according to the destination institution as Stroke A eligible (group A, n = 266 [8.2%]), Tertiary critical care center (group T; n = 35 [10.7%]), and other destinations such as emergency rooms (group O; n = 27 [8.2%]), and then reasons for using Emergency Medical Service (EMS) services and outcomes were compared among the groups.

RESULTS

Rates of milder stroke, and middle cerebral artery occlusion were significantly higher in group A than T, whereas that of vertebral-basilar artery occlusion was significantly lower in group A than in groups T and O. The amount of elapsed time from door to picture (DTP) was significantly lower in group A. The time from onset to recanalization, as well as rates of successful recanalization and favorable outcomes (90-day modified Rankin scale 0-2) did not significantly differ regardless of destination.

CONCLUSIONS

Most patients with LVO in the Tama area were categorized into group A. DTP was significantly lower in group A.

Quality of Acute Stroke Care at Primary Stroke Centers Before and After Certification in Comparison to Never-Certified Hospitals

Background and Purpose: Primary stroke center (PSC) certification is associated with improvements in stroke care and outcome. However, these improvements may reflect a higher baseline level of care delivery in hospitals eventually achieving certification. This study examines whether advancements in acute stroke care at PSCs are due to certification or factors intrinsic to the hospital.

Methods: Data was obtained from the Field Administration of Stroke Therapy-Magnesium (FAST-MAG) trial with participation of 40 Emergency Medical System agencies, 315 ambulances, and 60 acute receiving hospitals in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Subjects were transported to one of three types of destinations: PSC certified hospitals (PSCs), hospitals that were not PSCs at time of enrollment but would later become certified (pre-PSCs), and hospitals that would never be certified (non-PSCs). Metrics of acute stroke care quality included time arrival to imaging, use of intravenous tPA, and arrival to treatment.

Results: Of 1,700 cases, 856(50%) were at certified PSCs, 529(31%) were at pre-PSCs, and 315 (19%) were at non-PSCs. Mean (SD) was 33min (±76.1) at PSCs, 47(±86.6) at pre-PSCs, and 49(±71.7) at non-PSCs. Of 1,223 cerebral ischemia cases, rate of tPA utilization was 43% at PSCs, 27% at pre-PSCs, and 28% at non-PSCs. Mean ED arrival to thrombolysis was 71(±32.7) at PSC, 98(±37.6) at pre-PSC, and 95(±45.0) at non-PSCs. PSCs had improved time to imaging (p = 0.014), percent tPA use (p < 0.001), and time to treatment (p = 0.003).

Conclusions: Stroke care at hospitals prior to PSC certification is equivalent to care at non-PSCs.

Clinical Trial Registration: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00059332.

Modelling care quality for patients after a transient ischaemic attack within the US Veterans Health Administration

Objective

Timely preventive care can substantially reduce risk of recurrent vascular events or death after a transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Our objective was to understand patient and facility factors influencing preventive care quality for patients with TIA in the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Methods

We analysed administrative data from a retrospective cohort of 3052 patients with TIA cared for in the emergency department (ED) or inpatient setting in 110 VHA facilities from October 2010 to September 2011. A composite quality indicator (QI score) pass rate was constructed from four process-related quality measures—carotid imaging, brain imaging, high or moderate potency statin and antithrombotic medication, associated with the ED visit or inpatient admission after the TIA. We tested a multilevel structural equation model where facility and patient characteristics, inpatient admission, and neurological consultation were predictors of the resident’s composite QI score.

Results

Presenting with a speech deficit and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) were positively related to inpatient admission. Being admitted increased the likelihood of neurology consultation, whereas history of dementia, weekend arrival and a higher CCI score made neurological consultation less likely. Speech deficit, higher CCI, inpatient admission and neurological consultation had direct positive effects on the composite quality score. Patients in facilities with fewer full-time equivalent neurology staff were less likely to be admitted or to have a neurology consultation. Facilities having greater organisational complexity and with a VHA stroke centre designation were more likely to provide a neurology consultation.

Conclusions

Better TIA preventive care could be achieved through increased inpatient admissions, or through enhanced neurology and other care resources in the ED and during follow-up care.

Effect of Acute Stroke Care Regionalization on Intravenous Alteplase Use in Two Urban Counties

Importance: Intravenous alteplase is an effective treatment for acute ischemic stroke and is significantly underutilized. It is known that stroke centers with accreditation are more likely to provide intravenous alteplase treatment, and therefore, policies that increase the number of certified stroke centers and the number of acute ischemic stroke patients routed to these centers may be beneficial. Objective: To determine whether increasing access to primary stroke centers (regionalization) led to an increase in intravenous alteplase use in acute ischemic stroke patients. Design: An observational, longitudinal study to examine treatment trends with log-link binomial regression modeling to compare pre-post policy implementation changes in the proportions of patients treated with intravenous alteplase in two counties. Setting: Two urban counties, Santa Clara and San Mateo, in the western region of US that regionalized acute stroke care between 2005 and 2010. Participants: Patients with primary or secondary diagnosis of stroke were identified from the statewide patient discharge database by International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) codes. We linked ambulance and hospital data to create complete patient care records. Main outcomes and measures: Stroke treatment, defined as a documented primary procedure code for intravenous alteplase administration (ICD-9: 99.10). Results: In Santa Clara County, intravenous alteplase was administered to 35 patients (1.7%) in the pre-regionalization period and 240 patients (2.1%) in the post-regionalization period. In San Mateo County, intravenous alteplase was administered to 29 patients (1.3%) in the pre-policy period and 135 patients (3.2%) in the post-policy period. After regionalization of stroke care, intravenous alteplase increased two-fold in San Mateo County [adjusted RR 2.20, p = 0.003, 95% CI (1.31, 3.69)] but did not show any statistically significant change in Santa Clara County [adjusted RR 1.10, p = 0.55, 95% CI (0.80, 1.51)]. In the post-regionalization phase, when compared with Santa Clara County, we found that San Mateo County had greater change in paramedic stroke detection, higher number of transports to primary stroke centers and more frequent use of intravenous alteplase at stroke centers. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that greater post-regionalization improvements in San Mateo County contributed to significantly better county-level thrombolysis use than Santa Clara County.

Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: 2019 Update to the 2018 Guidelines for the Early Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Guideline for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

Background and Purpose- The purpose of these guidelines is to provide an up-to-date comprehensive set of recommendations in a single document for clinicians caring for adult patients with acute arterial ischemic stroke. The intended audiences are prehospital care providers, physicians, allied health professionals, and hospital administrators. These guidelines supersede the 2013 Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) Guidelines and are an update of the 2018 AIS Guidelines. Methods- Members of the writing group were appointed by the American Heart Association (AHA) Stroke Council's Scientific Statements Oversight Committee, representing various areas of medical expertise. Members were not allowed to participate in discussions or to vote on topics relevant to their relations with industry. An update of the 2013 AIS Guidelines was originally published in January 2018. This guideline was approved by the AHA Science Advisory and Coordinating Committee and the AHA Executive Committee. In April 2018, a revision to these guidelines, deleting some recommendations, was published online by the AHA. The writing group was asked review the original document and revise if appropriate. In June 2018, the writing group submitted a document with minor changes and with inclusion of important newly published randomized controlled trials with >100 participants and clinical outcomes at least 90 days after AIS. The document was sent to 14 peer reviewers. The writing group evaluated the peer reviewers' comments and revised when appropriate. The current final document was approved by all members of the writing group except when relationships with industry precluded members from voting and by the governing bodies of the AHA. These guidelines use the American College of Cardiology/AHA 2015 Class of Recommendations and Level of Evidence and the new AHA guidelines format. Results- These guidelines detail prehospital care, urgent and emergency evaluation and treatment with intravenous and intra-arterial therapies, and in-hospital management, including secondary prevention measures that are appropriately instituted within the first 2 weeks. The guidelines support the overarching concept of stroke systems of care in both the prehospital and hospital settings. Conclusions- These guidelines provide general recommendations based on the currently available evidence to guide clinicians caring for adult patients with acute arterial ischemic stroke. In many instances, however, only limited data exist demonstrating the urgent need for continued research on treatment of acute ischemic stroke.

2018 Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Guideline for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide an up-to-date comprehensive set of recommendations for clinicians caring for adult patients with acute arterial ischemic stroke in a single document. The intended audiences are prehospital care providers, physicians, allied health professionals, and hospital administrators. These guidelines supersede the 2013 guidelines and subsequent updates.

METHODS

Members of the writing group were appointed by the American Heart Association Stroke Council's Scientific Statements Oversight Committee, representing various areas of medical expertise. Strict adherence to the American Heart Association conflict of interest policy was maintained. Members were not allowed to participate in discussions or to vote on topics relevant to their relations with industry. The members of the writing group unanimously approved all recommendations except when relations with industry precluded members voting. Prerelease review of the draft guideline was performed by 4 expert peer reviewers and by the members of the Stroke Council's Scientific Statements Oversight Committee and Stroke Council Leadership Committee. These guidelines use the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association 2015 Class of Recommendations and Levels of Evidence and the new American Heart Association guidelines format.

RESULTS

These guidelines detail prehospital care, urgent and emergency evaluation and treatment with intravenous and intra-arterial therapies, and in-hospital management, including secondary prevention measures that are appropriately instituted within the first 2 weeks. The guidelines support the overarching concept of stroke systems of care in both the prehospital and hospital settings.

CONCLUSIONS

These guidelines are based on the best evidence currently available. In many instances, however, only limited data exist demonstrating the urgent need for continued research on treatment of acute ischemic stroke.

Feasibility and Efficacy of Nurse-Driven Acute Stroke Care

BACKGROUND

Acute stroke care requires rapid assessment and intervention. Replacing traditional sequential algorithms in stroke care with parallel processing using telestroke consultation could be useful in the management of acute stroke patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of a nurse-driven acute stroke protocol using a parallel processing model.

METHODS

This is a prospective, nonrandomized, feasibility study of a quality improvement initiative. Stroke team members had a 1-month training phase, and then the protocol was implemented for 6 months and data were collected on a "run-sheet." The primary outcome of this study was to determine if a nurse-driven acute stroke protocol is feasible and assists in decreasing door to needle (intravenous tissue plasminogen activator [IV-tPA]) times.

RESULTS

Of the 153 stroke patients seen during the protocol implementation phase, 57 were designated as "level 1" (symptom onset <4.5 hours) strokes requiring acute stroke management. Among these strokes, 78% were nurse-driven, and 75% of the telestroke encounters were also nurse-driven. The average door to computerized tomography time was significantly reduced in nurse-driven codes (38.9 minutes versus 24.4 minutes; P < .04).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of a nurse-driven protocol is feasible and effective. When used in conjunction with a telestroke specialist, it may be of value in improving patient outcomes by decreasing the time for door to decision for IV-tPA.

Emerging temporal trends in tissue plasminogen activator use: Results from the BASIC project

OBJECTIVE

To explore temporal trends in tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in a biethnic community without an academic medical center and variation in trends by age, sex, ethnicity, and stroke severity.

METHODS

Cases of AIS were identified from 7 hospitals in the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi (BASIC) project, a population-based surveillance study between January 1, 2000, and June 30, 2012. tPA, demographics, and stroke severity as assessed by the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were ascertained from medical records. Temporal trends were explored using generalized estimating equations, and adjustment made for age, sex, ethnicity, and NIHSS. Interaction terms were included to test for effect modification.

RESULTS

There were 5,277 AIS cases identified from 4,589 unique individuals. tPA use was steady at 2% and began increasing in 2006, reaching 11% in subsequent years. Stroke severity modified temporal trends (p = 0.003) such that cases in the highest severity quartile (NIHSS > 8) had larger increases in tPA use than those in lower severity quartiles. Although ethnicity did not modify the temporal trend, Mexican Americans (MAs) were less likely to receive tPA than non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) due to emerging ethnic differences in later years.

CONCLUSIONS

Dramatic increases in tPA use were apparent in this community without an academic medical center. Primary stroke center certification likely contributed to this rise. Results suggest that increases in tPA use were greater in higher severity patients compared to lower severity patients, and a gap between MAs and NHWs in tPA administration may be emerging.

How can we improve stroke thrombolysis rates? A review of health system factors and approaches associated with thrombolysis administration rates in acute stroke care

BACKGROUND

Thrombolysis using intravenous (IV) tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is one of few evidence-based acute stroke treatments, yet achieving high rates of IV tPA delivery has been problematic. The 4.5-h treatment window, the complexity of determining eligibility criteria and the availability of expertise and required resources may impact on treatment rates, with barriers encountered at the levels of the individual clinician, the social context and the health system itself. The review aimed to describe health system factors associated with higher rates of IV tPA administration for ischemic stroke and to identify whether system-focussed interventions increased tPA rates for ischemic stroke.

METHODS

Published original English-language research from four electronic databases spanning 1997-2014 was examined. Observational studies of the association between health system factors and tPA rates were described separately from studies of system-focussed intervention strategies aiming to increase tPA rates. Where study outcomes were sufficiently similar, a pooled meta-analysis of outcomes was conducted.

RESULTS

Forty-one articles met the inclusion criteria: 7 were methodologically rigorous interventions that met the Cochrane Collaboration Evidence for Practice and Organization of Care (EPOC) study design guidelines and 34 described observed associations between health system factors and rates of IV tPA. System-related factors generally associated with higher IV tPA rates were as follows: urban location, centralised or hub and spoke models, treatment by a neurologist/stroke nurse, in a neurology department/stroke unit or teaching hospital, being admitted by ambulance or mobile team and stroke-specific protocols. Results of the intervention studies suggest that telemedicine approaches did not consistently increase IV tPA rates. Quality improvement strategies appear able to provide modest increases in stroke thrombolysis (pooled odds ratio = 2.1, p = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In order to improve IV tPA rates in acute stroke care, specific health system factors need to be targeted. Multi-component quality improvement approaches can improve IV tPA rates for stroke, although more thoughtfully designed and well-reported trials are required to safely increase rates of IV tPA to eligible stroke patients.

Predicting risk of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and mortality after treatment with recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator using SEDAN score

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The most feared complication after treatment with recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is the occurrence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). The aims of the study were to predict the risk of sICH (ECASS II definition) after a therapy with rt-PA and to examine whether associations exist between SEDAN score and the early mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke in a monocenter study.

METHODS

During a 6-year period (2008-2013), 542 consecutive stroke patients (mean age, 73 ± 3 years; 51.1% women; median NIHSS score, 11) treated with IV thrombolysis were included in a monocenter study. SICH was diagnosed in according to the with ECASS II definition.

RESULTS

The absolute risk for sICH revealed 9.2% (95% CI, 6.5-11.4) of patients treated with IV thrombolysis and was 0%, 4.6% (95% CI, 1.3-7.9), 6.6% (95% CI, 3.3-10.5), 13.5% (95% CI, 6.7-19.2), 23.6% (95% CI, 12.7-34.5), and 26.7% (95% CI, 12.7-34.5) for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and ≥5 SEDAN points. Logistic regression revealed that sICH was associated with increasing SEDAN scores (OR, 1.93 per SEDAN point; 95% CI, 1.51-2.46; P < 0.001). The predictive performance was assessed with area under a receiver operating characteristic curve (0.73; 95% CI, 0.65-0.80; P < 0.001). During hospitalization (median, 9 days), 53 patients (9.8%; 95% CI, 7.4-12.45) died. In-hospital mortality was higher in patients with than those without sICH (30 vs 7.7%; P < 0.001), and it was increased with increasing SEDAN score (OR, 1.45 per point; 95% CI, 1.12-1.89; P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher SEDAN score was associated with an increased risk of sICH and early mortality in this monocenter study.

Development of regional stroke programs

The organization of stroke care has undergone a dramatic evolution in the USA over the last two decades. Beginning with the recommendation for Primary Stroke Centers (PSCs) in 1994, there has been a concerted effort by physicians, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and state legislatures to advance an evidence-based system of care with several tiers of stroke centers. At the apex of this structure are Regional Stroke Centers (RSCs), which do not have official recognition like PSCs and Comprehensive Stroke Centers (CSCs), but their existence as a hub for the many disparate spokes of stroke care in their region is increasingly necessary. Observational evidence suggests that this approach is improving the delivery of stroke care and reducing costs in the USA. Similar efforts are being made in Europe and Asia with encouraging results. The RSC model has the potential to lead to more uniform evidence-based stroke medicine, but many challenges exist.

Beneficial Effects of a Semi-Intensive Stroke Unit are Beyond the Monitor

Background and Purpose: Precise mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of the stroke unit (SU) are not fully established. Studies that compare monitored stroke units (semi-intensive type, SI-SU) versus an intensive care unit (ICU)-based mobile stroke team (MST-ICU) are lacking. Although inequalities in access to stroke unit care are globally improving, acute stroke patients may be admitted to Intensive Care Units for monitoring and followed by a mobile stroke team in hospital's lacking an SU with continuous cardiovascular monitoring. We aimed at comparing the stroke outcome between SI-SU and MST-ICU and hypothesized that the benefits of SI-SU are driven by additional elements other than cardiovascular monitoring, which is equally offered in both care systems. Methods: In a single-center setting, we compared the unfavorable outcomes (dependency and mortality) at 3 months in consecutive patients with ischemic stroke or spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage admitted to a stroke unit with semi-intensive monitoring (SI-SU) to a cohort of stroke patients hospitalized in an ICU and followed by a mobile stroke team (MST-ICU) during an equal observation period of 27 months. Secondary objectives included comparing mortality and the proportion of patients with excellent outcomes (modified Rankin Score (mRS) 0-1). Equal cardiovascular monitoring was offered in patients admitted in both SI-SU and MST-ICU. Results: 458 patients were treated in the SI-SU and compared to the MST-ICU (n = 370) cohort. The proportion of death and dependency after 3 months was significantly improved for patients in the SI-SU compared to MST-ICU (p < 0.001; aOR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.31-0.65). The shift analysis of the mRS distribution showed significant shift to the lower mRS in the SI-SU group, p < 0.001. The proportion of mortality in patients after 3 months also differed between the MST-ICU and the SI-SU (p < 0.05), but after adjusting for confounders this association was not significant (aOR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.31-1.13). The proportion of patients with excellent outcome was higher in the SI-SU (59.4 vs. 44.9%, p < 0.001) but the relationship was no more significant after adjustment (aOR = 1.17; 95% CI: 0.87-1.5). Conclusions: Our study shows that moving from a stroke team in a monitored setting (ICU) to an organized stroke unit leads to a significant reduction in the 3 months unfavorable outcome in patients with an acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. Cardiovascular monitoring is indispensable, but benefits of a semi-intensive Stroke Unit are driven by additional elements beyond intensive cardiovascular monitoring. This observation supports the ongoing development of Stroke Centers for efficient stroke care.

Telephone audit for monitoring stroke unit facilities: a post hoc analysis from PROSIT study

BACKGROUND

Although several valid approaches exist to measure the number and the quality of acute stroke units, only few studies tested their reliability. This study is aimed at establishing whether the telephone administration of the PROject of Stroke unIt ITaly (PROSIT) audit questionnaire is reliable compared with direct face-to-face interview.

METHODS

Forty-three medical leaders in charge of in-hospital stroke services were interviewed twice using the same PROSIT questionnaire with 2 different modalities. First, the interviewers approached the medical leaders by telephone. Thereafter, they went to the hospital site and performed a direct face-to-face interview. Six independent couples of trained researchers conducted the audit interviews. The degree of intermodality agreement was measured with kappa statistic.

RESULTS

We found a perfect agreement for stroke units identification between the 2 different audit modalities (K = 1.00; standard error [SE], 1.525). The agreement was also very good for stroke dedicated beds (K = 1.00; SE, 1.525) and dedicated personnel (K = 1.00; SE, 1.525), which are the 2 components of stroke unit definition. The agreement was lower for declared in use process of care and availability of diagnostic investigations.

CONCLUSIONS

The telephone audit can be used for monitoring stroke unit structures. It is more rapid, less expensive, and can repeatedly be used at appropriate intervals. However, a reliable description of the process of care and diagnostic investigations indicators should be obtained by either local site audit visit or prospective stroke register based on individual patient data.

Factors influencing the decline in stroke mortality: a statement from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Stroke mortality has been declining since the early 20th century. The reasons for this are not completely understood, although the decline is welcome. As a result of recent striking and more accelerated decreases in stroke mortality, stroke has fallen from the third to the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. This has prompted a detailed assessment of the factors associated with the change in stroke risk and mortality. This statement considers the evidence for factors that have contributed to the decline and how they can be used in the design of future interventions for this major public health burden.

METHODS

Writing group members were nominated by the committee chair and co-chair on the basis of their previous work in relevant topic areas and were approved by the American Heart Association Stroke Council's Scientific Statements Oversight Committee and the American Heart Association Manuscript Oversight Committee. The writers used systematic literature reviews, references to published clinical and epidemiological studies, morbidity and mortality reports, clinical and public health guidelines, authoritative statements, personal files, and expert opinion to summarize evidence and to indicate gaps in current knowledge. All members of the writing group had the opportunity to comment on this document and approved the final version. The document underwent extensive American Heart Association internal peer review, Stroke Council leadership review, and Scientific Statements Oversight Committee review before consideration and approval by the American Heart Association Science Advisory and Coordinating Committee.

RESULTS

The decline in stroke mortality over the past decades represents a major improvement in population health and is observed for both sexes and for all racial/ethnic and age groups. In addition to the overall impact on fewer lives lost to stroke, the major decline in stroke mortality seen among people <65 years of age represents a reduction in years of potential life lost. The decline in mortality results from reduced incidence of stroke and lower case-fatality rates. These significant improvements in stroke outcomes are concurrent with cardiovascular risk factor control interventions. Although it is difficult to calculate specific attributable risk estimates, efforts in hypertension control initiated in the 1970s appear to have had the most substantial influence on the accelerated decline in stroke mortality. Although implemented later, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia control and smoking cessation programs, particularly in combination with treatment of hypertension, also appear to have contributed to the decline in stroke mortality. The potential effects of telemedicine and stroke systems of care appear to be strong but have not been in place long enough to indicate their influence on the decline. Other factors had probable effects, but additional studies are needed to determine their contributions.

CONCLUSIONS

The decline in stroke mortality is real and represents a major public health and clinical medicine success story. The repositioning of stroke from third to fourth leading cause of death is the result of true mortality decline and not an increase in mortality from chronic lung disease, which is now the third leading cause of death in the United States. There is strong evidence that the decline can be attributed to a combination of interventions and programs based on scientific findings and implemented with the purpose of reducing stroke risks, the most likely being improved control of hypertension. Thus, research studies and the application of their findings in developing intervention programs have improved the health of the population. The continued application of aggressive evidence-based public health programs and clinical interventions is expected to result in further declines in stroke mortality.

Formation and Function of Acute Stroke–Ready Hospitals Within a Stroke System of Care Recommendations From the Brain Attack Coalition

Background and Purpose—

Many patients with an acute stroke live in areas without ready access to a Primary or Comprehensive Stroke Center. The formation of care facilities that meet the needs of these patients might improve their care and outcomes and guide them and emergency responders to such centers within a stroke system of care.

Methods—

The Brain Attack Coalition conducted an electronic search of the English medical literature from January 2000 to December 2012 to identify care elements and processes shown to be beneficial for acute stroke care. We used evidence grading and consensus paradigms to synthesize recommendations for Acute Stroke–Ready Hospitals (ASRHs).

Results—

Several key elements for an ASRH were identified, including acute stroke teams, written care protocols, involvement of emergency medical services and emergency department, and rapid laboratory and neuroimaging testing. Unique aspects include the use of telemedicine, hospital transfer protocols, and drip and ship therapies. Emergent therapies include the use of intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator and the reversal of coagulopathies. Although many of the care elements are similar to those of a Primary Stroke Center, compliance rates of ≥67% are suggested in recognition of the staffing, logistical, and financial challenges faced by rural facilities.

Conclusions—

ASRHs will form the foundation for acute stroke care in many settings. Recommended elements of an ASRH build on those proven to improve care and outcomes at Primary Stroke Centers. The ASRH will be a key component for patient care within an evolving stroke system of care.

Comparison of performance achievement award recognition with primary stroke center certification for acute ischemic stroke care

Background

Hospital certification and recognition programs represent 2 independent but commonly used systems to distinguish hospitals, yet they have not been directly compared. This study assessed acute ischemic stroke quality of care measure conformity by hospitals receiving Primary Stroke Center (PSC) certification and those receiving the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines‐Stroke (GWTG‐Stroke) Performance Achievement Award (PAA) recognition.

Methods and Results

The patient and hospital characteristics as well as performance/quality measures for acute ischemic stroke from 1356 hospitals participating in the GWTG‐Stroke Program 2010–2012 were compared. Hospitals were classified as PAA+/PSC+ (hospitals n=410, patients n=169 302), PAA+/PSC− (n=415, n=129 454), PAA−/PSC+ (n=88, n=26 386), and PAA−/PSC− (n=443, n=75 565). A comprehensive set of stroke measures were compared with adjustment for patient and hospital characteristics. Patient characteristics were similar by PAA and PSC status but PAA−/PSC− hospitals were more likely to be smaller and nonteaching. Measure conformity was highest for PAA+/PSC+ and PAA+/PSC− hospitals, intermediate for PAA−/PSC+ hospitals, and lowest for PAA−/PSC− hospitals (all‐or‐none care measure 91.2%, 91.2%, 84.3%, and 76.9%, respectively). After adjustment for patient and hospital characteristics, PAA+/PSC+, PAA+/PSC−, and PAA−/PSC+ hospitals had 3.15 (95% CIs 2.86 to 3.47); 3.23 (2.93 to 3.56) and 1.72 (1.47 to 2.00), higher odds for providing all indicated stroke performance measures to patients compared with PAA−/PSC− hospitals.

Conclusions

While both PSC certification and GWTG‐Stroke PAA recognition identified hospitals providing higher conformity with care measures for patients hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke, PAA recognition was a more robust identifier of hospitals with better performance.

Stroke care units versus general medical wards for acute management of stroke in Japan

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Japanese stroke guideline recommends the use of stroke care units (SCUs) for acute stroke treatment, but few SCUs have been established and the evidence supporting their use is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of SCUs compared with general medical wards (GMWs).

METHODS

A multicenter observational study was conducted using a large administrative database involving 52 hospitals; patients with either intracerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction were included. In-hospital mortality was the primary end point, and this parameter as well as the proportion of patients with a modified Rankin Scale score of ≤2 at discharge were compared between patients who were treated at SCUs and GMWs. Propensity score matching was performed to correct for selection bias.

RESULTS

A total of 6977 patients were identified, of which 4527 patients were admitted to SCUs and 2450 patients were admitted to GMWs. The in-hospital mortality of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage was 14.8% and 24.1% in SCUs and GMWs, respectively (P=0.0004); the mortality of patients with cerebral infarction was 3.6% and 5.7%, respectively (P=0.003). Multivariate analysis in propensity score-matched pairs indicated significantly lower risk of death in the SCU group among patients with both intracerebral hemorrhage (odds ratio, 0.36; P=0.0007) and cerebral infarction (odds ratio, 0.60; P=0.02). However, the proportions of patients with a modified Rankin Scale score of ≤2 were not significantly different between SCUs and GMWs.

CONCLUSIONS

SCUs were associated with a reduced risk of in-hospital mortality of stroke patients compared with GMWs alone.

Management of acute ischemic stroke

Stroke is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients in the United States. A proper understanding of stroke mechanisms helps to guide specific case management. The only therapy approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the management of acute ischemic stroke is initiation of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator within 3 hours of symptom onset. Other treatment options include intra-arterial recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, mechanical thrombectomy, clot retrieval, or a combination of these approaches. In this article, we provide an evidence-based review of the diagnostic approach for acute ischemic stroke, including recognizing common stroke mimics. We detail the initial medical management of acute stroke and the medical and surgical therapeutic interventions for patients who have sustained acute ischemic stroke.

Effect of a provincial system of stroke care delivery on stroke care and outcomes

BACKGROUND

Systems of stroke care delivery have been promoted as a means of improving the quality of stroke care, but little is known about their effectiveness. We assessed the effect of the Ontario Stroke System, a province-wide strategy of regionalized stroke care delivery, on stroke care and outcomes in Ontario, Canada.

METHODS

We used population-based provincial administrative databases to identify all emergency department visits and hospital admissions for acute stroke and transient ischemic attack from Jan. 1, 2001, to Dec. 31, 2010. Using piecewise regression analyses, we assessed the effect of the full implementation of the Ontario Stroke System in 2005 on the proportion of patients who received care at stroke centres, and on rates of discharge to long-term care facilities and 30-day mortality after stroke.

RESULTS

We included 243 287 visits by patients with acute stroke or transient ischemic attack. The full implementation of the Ontario Stroke System in 2005 was associated with an increase in rates of care at stroke centres (before implementation: 40.0%; after implementation: 46.5%), decreased rates of discharge to long-term care facilities (before implementation: 16.9%; after implementation: 14.8%) and decreased 30-day mortality for hemorrhagic (before implementation: 38.3%; after implementation: 34.4%) and ischemic stroke (before implementation: 16.3%; after implementation: 15.7%). The system's implementation was also associated with marked increases in the proportion of patients who received neuroimaging, thrombolytic therapy, care in a stroke unit and antithrombotic therapy.

INTERPRETATION

The implementation of an organized system of stroke care delivery was associated with improved processes of care and outcomes after stroke.

Primary and comprehensive stroke centers: history, value and certification criteria

In the United States (US) stroke care has undergone a remarkable transformation in the past decades at several levels. At the clinical level, randomized trials have paved the way for many new stroke preventives, and recently, several new mechanical clot retrieval devices for acute stroke treatment have been cleared for use in practice by the US Federal Drug Administration. Furthermore, in the mid 1990s we witnessed regulatory approval of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator for administration in acute ischemic stroke. In the domain of organization of medical care and delivery of health services, stroke has transitioned from a disease dominated by neurologic consultation services only to one managed by vascular neurologists in geographical stroke units, stroke teams and care pathways, primary stroke center certification according to The Joint Commission, and most recently comprehensive stroke center designation under the aegis of The Joint Commission. Many organizations in the US have been involved to enhance stroke care. To name a few, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, Brain Attack Coalition, and National Stroke Association have been on the forefront of this movement. Additionally, governmental initiatives by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and legislative initiatives such as the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Registry program have paved the way to focus on stroke prevention, acute treatment and quality improvement. In this invited review, we discuss a brief history of organized stroke care in the United States, evidence to support the value of primary and comprehensive stroke centers, and the certification criteria and process to become a primary or comprehensive stroke center.

Joint commission primary stroke centers utilize more rt-PA in the nationwide inpatient sample

Background

The Joint Commission began certifying primary stroke centers (PSCs) in December 2003 and provides a standardized definition of stroke center care. It is unknown if PSCs outperform noncertified hospitals. We hypothesized that PSCs would use more recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt‐PA) for ischemic stroke than would non‐PSCs.

Methods and Results

Data were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2004 to 2009. The analysis was limited to states that publicly reported hospital identity. All patients ≥18 years with a primary diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke were included. Subjects were excluded if the treating hospital was not identified, if it was not possible to determine the temporal relationship between certification and admission, and/or if admitted as a transfer. Rt‐PA was defined by ICD9 procedure code 99.10. All eligibility criteria were met by 323 228 discharges from 26 states. There were 63 145 (19.5%) at certified PSCs. Intravenous rt‐PA was administered to 3.1% overall: 2.2% at non‐PSCs and 6.7% at PSCs. Between 2004 and 2009, rt‐PA administration increased from 1.4% to 3.3% at non‐PSCs and from 6.0% to 7.6% at PSCs. In a multivariable model incorporating year, age, sex, race, insurance, income, comorbidities, DRG‐based disease severity, and hospital characteristics, evaluation at a PSC was significantly associated with rt‐PA utilization (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.61 to 2.16).

Conclusions

Subjects evaluated at PSCs were more likely to receive rt‐PA than those evaluated at non‐PSCs. This association was significant after adjustment for patient and hospital‐level variables. Systems of care are necessary to ensure stroke patients have rapid access to PSCs throughout the United States.

Acute ischemic stroke--from symptom recognition to thrombolysis

OBJECTIVES

The understanding of stroke has changed in the recent years from rehabilitation to an emergency approach. We review existing data from symptom recognition to thrombolysis and identify challenges in the different phases of patient treatment.

RESULTS

Implementation of treatment in dedicated stroke units with a multidisciplinary team exclusively treating stroke patients has led to significant reduction of stroke morbidity and mortality. Yet, first the introduction of treatment with intravenous rtPA (IVT) has led to the 'time is brain' concept where stroke is conceived as an emergency. As neuronal death in stroke is time dependent, all effort should be laid on immediate symptom recognition, rapid transport to the nearest hospital with a stroke treatment facility and diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. The main cause of prehospital delay is that patients do not recognize that they suffered a stroke or out of other reasons do not call the Emergency Medical Services immediately. Educational stroke awareness campaigns may have an impact in increasing the number of patients eligible for rtPA treatment and can decrease the prehospital times if they are directed both to the public and to the medical divisions treating stroke. Stroke transport times can be shortened by the use of helicopter and a stroke mobile--an ambulance equipped with a CT scanner--may be helpful to decrease time from onset to treatment start in the future. Yet, IVT has several limitations such as a narrow time window and a weak effect in ischemic strokes caused by large vessel occlusions. In these cases, interventional procedures and the concept of bridging therapy, a combined approach of IVT and intraarterial thrombolysis or mechanical thrombectomy, might improve recanalization rates and patient outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

As neuronal death in stroke patients occurs in a time-dependent fashion, all effort should be made to decrease time from symptom onset to treatment start with rtPA: major challenges are stroke recognition in the public, transport times to hospital and an efficient stroke triage in the hospital.

Elements of a stroke center

The past decade has ushered in a refined understanding of--and commitment to--objective evidence-based practice of stroke management. Responding to the need for universal protocol-driven guidelines for stroke care, the Brain Attack Coalition published consensus statements with recommendations for primary stroke centers (Alberts MJ, et al, JAMA 283:3102-3109, 2000) and comprehensive stroke centers (Alberts MJ, et al, Stroke 36:1597-1616, 2005) in 2000 and 2005, respectively. These benchmark publications helped to define a new "standard of care" for stroke patients and laid the groundwork to establish formal certification for stroke centers. Although large randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of these guidelines are currently underway, several recent reports suggest that stroke center certification may improve outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke. In this article, the authors briefly discuss the status of stroke center certification and the evolution of stroke systems of care.

Access to Expert Stroke Care with Telemedicine: REACH MUSC

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) can significantly reduce the long-term impact of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) if given within 3 h of symptom onset. South Carolina is located in the "stroke belt" and has a high rate of stroke and stroke mortality. Many small rural SC hospitals do not maintain the expertise needed to treat AIS patients with rtPA. MUSC is an academic medical center using REACH MUSC telemedicine to deliver stroke care to 15 hospitals in the state, increasing the likelihood of timely treatment with rtPA. The purpose of this study is to determine the increase in access to rtPA through the use of telemedicine for AIS in the general population and in specific segments of the population based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, education, urban/rural residence, poverty, and stroke mortality. We used a retrospective cross-sectional design examining Census data from 2000 and geographic information systems analysis to identify South Carolina residents that live within 30 or 60 min of a primary stroke center (PSC) or a REACH MUSC site. We include all South Carolina citizens in our analysis and specifically examine the population's age, gender, race, ethnicity, education, urban/rural residence, poverty, and stroke mortality. Our sample includes 4,012,012 South Carolinians. The main measure is access to expert stroke care at a PSC or a REACH MUSC hospital within 30 or 60 min. We find that without REACH MUSC, only 38% of the population has potential access to expert stroke care in SC within 60 min given that most PSCs will maintain expert stroke coverage. REACH MUSC allows 76% of the population to be within 60 min of expert stroke care, and 43% of the population to be within 30 min drive time of expert stroke care. These increases in access are especially significant for groups that have faced disparities in care and high rates of AIS. The use of telemedicine can greatly increase access to care for residents throughout South Carolina.

30-day mortality and readmission after hemorrhagic stroke among Medicare beneficiaries in Joint Commission primary stroke center-certified and noncertified hospitals

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Ischemic stroke patients treated at Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center (JC-PSC)-certified hospitals have better outcomes. Data reflecting the impact of JC-PSC status on outcomes after hemorrhagic stroke are limited. We determined whether 30-day mortality and readmission rates after hemorrhagic stroke differed for patients treated at JC-PSC-certified versus noncertified hospitals.

METHODS

The study included all fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older with a primary discharge diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) or intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in 2006. Covariate-adjusted logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression assessed the effect of care at a JC-PSC-certified hospital on 30-day mortality and readmission.

RESULTS

There were 2305 SAH and 8708 ICH discharges from JC-PSC-certified hospitals and 3892 SAH and 22 564 ICH discharges from noncertified hospitals. Unadjusted in-hospital mortality (SAH: 27.5% versus 33.2%, P<0.0001; ICH: 27.9% versus 29.6%, P=0.003) and 30-day mortality (SAH: 35.1% versus 44.0%, P<0.0001; ICH: 39.8% versus 42.4%, P<0.0001) were lower in JC-PSC hospitals, but 30-day readmission rates were similar (SAH: 17.0% versus 17.0%, P=0.97; ICH: 16.0% versus 15.5%, P=0.29). Risk-adjusted 30-day mortality was 34% lower (odds ratio, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.76) after SAH and 14% lower (odds ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.80-0.92) after ICH for patients discharged from JC-PSC-certified hospitals. There was no difference in 30-day risk-adjusted readmission rates for SAH or ICH based on JC-PSC status.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients treated at JC-PSC-certified hospitals had lower risk-adjusted mortality rates for both SAH and ICH but similar 30-day readmission rates as compared with noncertified hospitals.

Intravenous thrombolysis for stroke increases over time at primary stroke centers

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We evaluated the impact that duration as a primary stroke center (PSC) had on tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) utilization for acute ischemic stroke.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the Illinois Hospital Association CompData was performed identifying those patients with primary discharge diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke based on International Classification of Diseases version 9 codes. We assessed utilization of tPA by International Classification of Diseases version 9 procedure code (99.10). We categorized patients as cared for at non-PSC, PSC >1 year before, ≤1 year before, ≤1 year after, and >1 year after certification. We used generalized estimating equations to calculate adjusted odds ratios for tPA utilization by PSC category.

RESULTS

Among 119,539 acute ischemic stroke patients (mean age, 72 years; 55.2% women), tPA use was 1.9% but increased by PSC category (P<0.001): (1) non-PSC 0.9%; (2) >1 year before PSC certification 1.4%; (3) ≤1 year before certification 3.2%; (4) ≤1 year after certification 4.3%; and (5) >1 year after certification 6.5%. Adjusting for age, insurance status, admission source, year of study, region of Illinois, and hospital bed size, the odds of tPA utilization increased with advancing stage of PSC certification (highest category: adjusted odds ratio, 2.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.52-3.71).

CONCLUSIONS

Although increasing over time, stroke thrombolysis is strongly impacted by the PSC certification process. Rather than waning or stagnating, tPA utilization increases at PSC from the earliest phases of preparation through certification and subsequent maintenance.

Revised and updated recommendations for the establishment of primary stroke centers: a summary statement from the brain attack coalition

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The formation and certification of Primary Stroke Centers has progressed rapidly since the Brain Attack Coalition's original recommendations in 2000. The purpose of this article is to revise and update our recommendations for Primary Stroke Centers to reflect the latest data and experience.

METHODS

We conducted a literature review using MEDLINE and PubMed from March 2000 to January 2011. The review focused on studies that were relevant for acute stroke diagnosis, treatment, and care. Original references as well as meta-analyses and other care guidelines were also reviewed and included if found to be valid and relevant. Levels of evidence were added to reflect current guideline development practices.

RESULTS

Based on the literature review and experience at Primary Stroke Centers, the importance of some elements has been further strengthened, and several new areas have been added. These include (1) the importance of acute stroke teams; (2) the importance of Stroke Units with telemetry monitoring; (3) performance of brain imaging with MRI and diffusion-weighted sequences; (4) assessment of cerebral vasculature with MR angiography or CT angiography; (5) cardiac imaging; (6) early initiation of rehabilitation therapies; and (7) certification by an independent body, including a site visit and disease performance measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the evidence, several elements of Primary Stroke Centers are particularly important for improving the care of patients with an acute stroke. Additional elements focus on imaging of the brain, the cerebral vasculature, and the heart. These new elements may improve the care and outcomes for patients with stroke cared for at a Primary Stroke Center.

Outcomes after ischemic stroke for hospitals with and without Joint Commission-certified primary stroke centers

BACKGROUND

The Joint Commission (JC) began certifying primary stroke centers (PSCs) in the United States in 2003. We assessed whether 30-day risk-standardized mortality (RSMR) and readmission (RSRR) rates differed between hospitals with and without JC-certified PSCs in 2006.

METHODS

The study cohort included all fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 years old discharged with a primary diagnosis of ischemic stroke (International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, Clinical Modification 433, 434, 436) in 2006. Hierarchical linear regression models calculated hospital-level RSMRs and RSRRs, adjusting for patient demographics, comorbid conditions, and hospital referral region. Hospitals were categorized as being higher than, no different from, or lower than the national average.

RESULTS

There were 310,381 ischemic stroke discharges from 315 JC-certified PSC and 4,231 noncertified hospitals. Mean overall 30-day RSMR and RSRR were 10.9% ± 1.7% and 12.5% ± 1.4%, respectively. The RSMRs of hospitals with JC-certified PSCs were lower than in noncertified hospitals (10.7% ± 1.7% vs 11.0% ± 1.7%), but the RSRRs were comparable (12.5% ± 1.3% vs 12.4% ± 1.7%). Almost half of JC-certified PSC hospitals had RSMRs lower than the national average compared with 19% of noncertified hospitals, but 13% of JC-certified PSC hospitals had lower RSRRs vs 15% of noncertified hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospitals with JC-certified PSCs had lower RSMRs compared with noncertified hospitals in 2006; however, differences were small. Readmission rates were similar between the 2 groups. PSC certification generally identified better-performing hospitals for mortality outcomes, but some hospitals with certified PSCs may have high RSMRs and RSRRs whereas some hospitals without PSCs have low rates. Unmeasured factors may contribute to this heterogeneity.

Association between stroke center hospitalization for acute ischemic stroke and mortality

CONTEXT

Although stroke centers are widely accepted and supported, little is known about their effect on patient outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between admission to stroke centers for acute ischemic stroke and mortality.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Observational study using data from the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System. We compared mortality for patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke (n = 30,947) between 2005 and 2006 at designated stroke centers and nondesignated hospitals using differential distance to hospitals as an instrumental variable to adjust for potential prehospital selection bias. Patients were followed up for mortality for 1 year after the index hospitalization through 2007. To assess whether our findings were specific to stroke, we also compared mortality for patients admitted with gastrointestinal hemorrhage (n = 39,409) or acute myocardial infarction (n = 40,024) at designated stroke centers and nondesignated hospitals.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Thirty-day all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Among 30,947 patients with acute ischemic stroke, 15,297 (49.4%) were admitted to designated stroke centers. Using the instrumental variable analysis, admission to designated stroke centers was associated with lower 30-day all-cause mortality (10.1% vs 12.5%; adjusted mortality difference, -2.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -3.6% to -1.4%; P < .001) and greater use of thrombolytic therapy (4.8% vs 1.7%; adjusted difference, 2.2%; 95% CI, 1.6% to 2.8%; P < .001). Differences in mortality also were observed at 1-day, 7-day, and 1-year follow-up. The outcome differences were specific for stroke, as stroke centers and nondesignated hospitals had similar 30-day all-cause mortality rates among those with gastrointestinal hemorrhage (5.0% vs 5.8%; adjusted mortality difference, +0.3%; 95% CI, -0.5% to 1.0%; P = .50) or acute myocardial infarction (10.5% vs 12.7%; adjusted mortality difference, +0.1%; 95% CI, -0.9% to 1.1%; P = .83).

CONCLUSION

Among patients with acute ischemic stroke, admission to a designated stroke center was associated with modestly lower mortality and more frequent use of thrombolytic therapy.

Use of antithrombotic medications among elderly ischemic stroke patients

BACKGROUND

The use of antithrombotic medications after ischemic stroke is recommended for deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis and secondary stroke prevention. We assessed the rate of receipt of these therapies among eligible ischemic stroke patients age ≥65 years and determined the effects of age and other patient characteristics on treatment.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The analysis included Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries discharged with ischemic stroke (ICD 433.x1, 434.x1, 436) randomly selected for inclusion in the Medicare Health Care Quality Improvement Program's National Stroke Project 1998 to 1999, 2000 to 2001. Patients discharged from nonacute facilities, transferred, or terminally ill were excluded. Receipt of in-hospital pharmacological deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis, antiplatelet medication, anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation, and antithrombotic medications at discharge were assessed in eligible patients, stratified by age (65 to 74, 75 to 84, and 85+ years). Descriptive models identified characteristics associated with treatment. Among 31 554 patients, 14.9% of those eligible received pharmacological deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis, 83.9% antiplatelet drugs, 82.8% anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation, and 74.2% were discharged on an antithrombotic medication. Rates of treatment decreased with age and were lowest for patients ages 85 years or older. Admission from a skilled nursing facility and functional dependence were associated with lower treatment rates.

CONCLUSIONS

There was substantial underutilization of antithrombotic therapies among elderly ischemic stroke patients, particularly among the very elderly, those admitted from skilled nursing facilities, and patients with functional dependence. The reasons for low use of antithrombotic therapies, including the apparent underutilization of deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis in otherwise eligible patients, require further investigation.