Use of Emergency Medical Services and Timely Treatment Among Ischemic Stroke.

Background and Purpose- Emergency medical services (EMSs) are critical for early treatment of patients with ischemic stroke, yet data on EMS utilization and its association with timely treatment in China are still limited. Methods- We examined data from the Chinese Stroke Center Alliance for patients with ischemic stroke from June 2015 to June 2018. Absolute standardized difference was used for covariates' balance assessments. We used multivariable logistic models with the generalized estimating equations to account for intrahospital clustering in identifying demographic and clinical factors associated with EMS use as well as in evaluating the association of EMS use with timely treatment. Results- Of the 560 447 patients with ischemic stroke analyzed, only 69 841 (12.5%) were transported by EMS. Multivariable-adjusted results indicated that those with younger age, lower levels of education, less insurance coverage, lower income, lower stroke severity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral vascular disease were less likely to use EMS. However, a history of cardiovascular diseases was associated with increased EMS usage. Compared with self-transport, EMS transport was associated with significantly shorter onset-to-door time, door-to-needle time (if prenotification was sent), earlier arrival (adjusted odds ratio [95% CIs] were 2.07 [1.95-2.20] for onset-to-door time ≤2 hours, 2.32 [2.18-2.47] for onset-to-door time ≤3.5 hours), and more rapid treatment (2.96 [2.88-3.05] for IV-tPA [intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator] in eligible patients, 1.70 [1.62-1.77] for treatment with IV-tPA by 3 hours if onset-to-door time ≤2 hours, and 1.76 [1.70-1.83] for treatment with IV-tPA by 4.5 hours if onset-to-door time ≤3.5 hours). Conclusions- Although EMS transportation is associated with substantial reductions in prehospital delay and improved likelihood of early arrival and timely treatment, rate of utilization is currently low among Chinese patients with ischemic stroke. Developing an efficient EMS system and promoting culture-adapted education efforts are necessary for improving EMS activation.

Atrial Fibrillation Known Before or Detected After Stroke Share Similar Risk of Ischemic Stroke Recurrence and Death.

Background and Purpose- We aim to compare the risk of 1-year ischemic stroke recurrence and death for atrial fibrillation diagnosed after stroke (AFDAS), atrial fibrillation known before stroke (KAF), and sinus rhythm (SR). Methods- From June 2012 to January 2013, 19 604 patients with acute ischemic stroke were admitted to 219 urban hospitals in the China National Stroke Registry II. Based on heart rhythm assessed during admission, we classified patients as AFDAS, KAF, or SR. We explored the relationship between heart rhythm groups and 1-year ischemic stroke recurrence or death by using Cox regression adjusted for multiple covariates. Considering that death is a competing risk for stroke recurrence, we used the competing risks analysis of Fine and Gray and subdistribution Cox proportional hazards to test the association between heart rhythm and 1-year outcomes. Results- Among 19 604 ischemic stroke patients, 17 727 had SR, 495 AFDAS, and 1382 KAF. At 1 year, 54 (10.9%) patients with AFDAS, 182 (13.2%) with KAF, and 1008 (5.7%) with SR had recurrent ischemic strokes ( P<0.0001). Mortality was 22.0% in patients with AFDAS, 22.1% in patients with KAF, and 7.0% in patients with SR ( P<0.0001). AFDAS-related ischemic stroke recurrence adjusted risk was higher than that of SR (adjusted subdistribution hazard ratios, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.29-2.01) but not different from that of KAF (adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.87-1.45]). The adjusted risk of 1-year death for AFDAS was also higher than that of SR (hazard ratio, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.37-2.12) and not different from that of KAF (hazard ratio, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.86-1.41). Conclusions- This study showed that AFDAS had similar risk of 1-year ischemic stroke recurrence and mortality when compared with KAF and higher risk when compared with SR. The potential risk of AFDAS should be given more emphasis, and appropriate treatment is needed to achieve reduction in the incidence of stroke recurrence and mortality.

Disparities in outcomes associated with rural-urban insurance status in China among inpatient women with stroke: a registry-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Despite a few studies have demonstrated sex differences in stroke care and outcomes, limited research has explored insurance-related disparities in outcomes, particularly among women stroke patients. The aim was to determine whether rural-urban health insurance status affect the stroke treatment, process of care, and 1-year clinical outcomes for inpatient ischemic stroke in women. METHODS: Women patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) covered by New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (NRCMS) and urban resident/employee-based basic medical insurance scheme (URBMI/UEBMI) were abstracted from the China National Stroke Registry II (CNSR II). Shared frailty model in the Cox model or generalized estimating equation with consideration of the hospital's cluster effect were used to assess the associations between rural-urban insurance status and quality of care during hospitalization and 1-year stroke outcomes including all-cause death, 1-year recurrence, and 1-year disability. RESULTS: A total of 5,707 women patients enrolled from 219 hospitals in CNSR II were analyzed. Compared with 2,880 women patients covered by URBMI/UEBMI, 2,827 women patients covered by NRCMS were younger (65.7 versus 68.9 years), less likely to have vascular risk factors, awareness and treatment of hypertension and dyslipidemia prior to stroke. Women covered by NRCMS were more likely to receive early antithrombotics, discharge antithrombotics, lipid-lowering drugs, but less likely to receive antihypertensive medication than those covered by URBMI/UEBMI. One-year all-cause mortality and stroke recurrence were both significantly higher in women patients with NRCMS than those with URBMI/UEBMI [adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.40 (1.06-1.84) and 1.38 (1.04-1.83), separately]. CONCLUSIONS: AIS women patients with rural-urban insurance status demonstrated remarkable differences in age, stroke risk factors, awareness and treatment, the process of care, and 1-year stroke recurrence and mortality. Healthcare policymakers need to focus their attention on these disparities and take proper steps to improve primary healthcare service in rural areas.

Renal Dysfunction and In-Hospital Outcomes in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke After Intravenous Thrombolytic Therapy.

Background The impact of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on clinical short-term outcomes after stroke thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator remains controversial. Methods and Results We analyzed 18 320 ischemic stroke patients who received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator at participating hospitals in the Chinese Stroke Center Alliance between June 2015 and November 2017. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between eGFR (<45, 45-59, 60-89, and ≥90 mL/min per 1.73 m2) and in-hospital mortality and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics and the hospital clustering effect. Of the 18 320 patients receiving tissue plasminogen activator, 601 (3.3%) had an eGFR <45, 625 (3.4%) had an eGFR 45 to 59, 3679 (20.1%) had an eGFR 60 to 89, and 13 415 (73.2%) had an eGFR ≥90. As compared with eGFR ≥90, eGFR values <45 (6.7% versus 0.9%, adjusted odds ratio, 3.59; 95% CI, 2.18-5.91), 45 to 59 (4.0% versus 0.9%, adjusted odds ratio, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.18-3.38), and 60 to 89 (2.5% versus 0.9%, adjusted odds ratio, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.20-2.34) were independently associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality. However, there was no statistically significant association between eGFR and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage. Conclusions eGFR was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality in acute ischemic stroke patients after treatment with tissue plasminogen activator. eGFR is an important predictor of poststroke short-term death but not of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage.

%ggBaseline: a SAS macro for analyzing and reporting baseline characteristics automatically in medical research.

Demographic tables are widely used to report baseline characteristics in medical research. However, the traditional copy-paste production method is time-consuming and frequently generates typing errors. Current available statistical tools are still far away from ideal, because they are difficult to understand and they lack flexibility. A user-friendly, dynamic, and flexible tool is needed for researchers to automate the creation of demographic tables. In this paper, we introduce a SAS macro, %ggBaseline, that automatically analyzing and reporting baseline characteristics with the final production of publication-quality demographic tables. The macro provides optional parameters that allow for the full customization of desired demographic tables. Since %ggBaseline allows for the quick creation of reproducible and fully customizable tables, it can be beneficial to academics, clinical trials and medical research studies by making the presentation and formatting of results faster and more efficient.

Insurance status and 1-year outcomes of stroke and transient ischaemic attack: a registry-based cohort study in China.

OBJECTIVE: Although more than 95% of the population is insured by urban or rural insurance programmes in China, little research has been done on insurance-related outcome disparities for patients with acute stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA). This study aimed to examine the relationship between insurance status and 1-year outcomes for patients with stroke and TIA. METHODS: We abstracted 24 941 patients with acute stroke and TIA from the China National Stroke Registry II. Insurance status was categorised as Urban Basic Medical Insurance Scheme (UBMIS), New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (NRCMS) and self-payment. The relationship between insurance status and 1-year outcomes, including all-cause death, stroke recurrence and disability, was analysed using the shared frailty model in the Cox model or generalised estimating equation with consideration of the hospital's cluster effect. RESULTS: About 50% of patients were covered by UBMIS, 41.2% by NRCMS and 8.9% by self-payment. Compared with patients covered by UBMIS, patients covered by NRCMS had a significantly higher risk of all-cause death (9.7% vs 8.6%, adjusted HR: 1.32 (95% CI 1.17 to 1.48), p<0.001), stroke recurrence (7.2% vs 6.5%, adjusted HR: 1.12 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.37), p<0.001) and disability (32.0% vs 26.3%, adjusted OR: 1.29 (95% CI 1.21 to 1.39), p<0.001). Compared with patients covered by UBMIS, self-payment patients had a similar risk of death and stroke recurrence but a higher risk of disability. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with stroke and TIA demonstrated differences in 1-year mortality, stroke recurrence and disability between urban and rural insurance groups in China.