Department
neurology
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Background-Racial-ethnic disparities in acute stroke care can contribute to inequality in stroke outcomes. We examined raceethnic disparities in acute stroke performance metrics in a voluntary stroke registry among Florida and Puerto Rico Get With the Guidelines-Stroke hospitals. Methods and Results-Seventy-five sites in the Florida Puerto Rico Stroke Registry (66 Florida and 9 Puerto Rico) recorded 58 864 ischemic stroke cases (2010-2014). Logistic regression models examined racial-ethnic differences in acute stroke performance measures and defect-free care (intravenous tissue plasminogen activator treatment, in-hospital antithrombotic therapy, deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis, discharge antithrombotic therapy, appropriate anticoagulation therapy, statin use, smoking cessation counseling) and temporal trends. Among ischemic stroke cases, 63% were non-Hispanic white (NHW), 18% were non-Hispanic black (NHB), 14% were Hispanic living in Florida, and 6% were Hispanic living in Puerto Rico. NHW patients were the oldest, followed by Hispanics, and NHBs. Defect-free care was greatest among NHBs (81%), followed by NHWs (79%) and Florida Hispanics (79%), then Puerto Rico Hispanics (57%) (P < 0.0001). Puerto Rico Hispanics were less likely than Florida whites to meet any stroke care performance metric other than anticoagulation. Defect-free care improved for all groups during 2010-2014, but the disparity in Puerto Rico persisted (2010: NHWs=63%, NHBs=65%, Florida Hispanics=59%, Puerto Rico Hispanics=31%; 2014: NHWs=93%, NHBs=94%, Florida Hispanics=94%, Puerto Rico Hispanics=63%). Conclusions-Racial-ethnic/geographic disparities were observed for acute stroke care performance metrics. Adoption of a quality improvement program improved stroke care from 2010 to 2014 in Puerto Rico and all Florida racial-ethnic groups. However, stroke care quality delivered in Puerto Rico is lower than in Florida. Sustained support of evidence-based acute stroke quality improvement programs is required to improve stroke care and minimize racial-ethnic disparities, particularly in resource-strained Puerto Rico.
Medical Subject Headings
neurology
Publication Date
2017
Publication Title
Journal of the American Heart Association
ISSN
2047-9980
Volume
6
Issue
2
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1161/JAHA.116.004073
Recommended Citation
Sacco, Ralph L.; Gardener, Hannah; Wang, Kefeng; Dong, Chuanhui; Ciliberti-Vargas, Maria A.; Gutierrez, Carolina M.; Asdaghi, Negar; Burgin, W. Scott; Carrasquillo, Olveen; Garcia-Rivera, Enid J.; Nobo, Ulises; Oluwole, Sofia; Rose, David Z.; Waters, Michael F.; Zevallos, Juan Carlos; Robichaux, Mary; Waddy, Salina P.; Romano, Jose G.; Rundek, Tatjana; and al., et, "Racial-Ethnic Disparities in Acute Stroke Care in the Florida-Puerto Rico Collaboration to Reduce Stroke Disparities Study" (2017). Neurology. 295.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurology/295