Care Transition Interventions to Improve Stroke Outcomes: Evidence Gaps in Underserved and Minority Populations.

In many countries hospital length of stay after an acute stroke admission is typically just a few days, therefore, most of a person's recovery from stroke occurs in the community. Care transitions, which occur when there is a change in, or handoff between 2 different care settings or providers, represent an especially vulnerable period for patients and caregivers. For some patients with stroke the return home is associated with substantial practical, psychosocial, and health-related challenges leading to substantial burden for the individual and caregiver. Underserved and minority populations, because of their exposure to poor environmental, social, and economic conditions, as well as structural racism and discrimination, are especially vulnerable to the problems of complicated care transitions which in turn, can negatively impact stroke recovery. Overall, there remain significant unanswered questions about how to promote optimal recovery in the post-acute care period, particularly for those from underserved communities. Evidence is limited on how best to support patients after they have returned home where they are required to navigate the chronic stages of stroke with little direct support from health professionals.

Strategies to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Inequities in Stroke Preparedness, Care, Recovery, and Risk Factor Control: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Stroke is a disease of disparities, with tremendous racial and ethnic inequities in incidence, prevalence, treatment, and outcomes. The accumulating literature on the relationship between stroke and social determinants of health (ie, the structural conditions of the places where people live, learn, work, and play) contributes to our understanding of stroke inequities. Several interventions have been tested concurrently to reduce racial and ethnic inequities in stroke preparedness, care, recovery, and risk factor control. It is regrettable that no common theoretical framework has been used to facilitate comparison of interventions. In this scientific statement, we summarize, across the stroke continuum of care, trials of interventions addressing racial and ethnic inequities in stroke care and outcomes. We reviewed the literature on interventions to address racial and ethnic inequities to identify gaps and areas for future research. Although numerous trials tested interventions aimed at reducing inequities in prehospital, acute care, transitions in care, and poststroke risk factor control, few addressed inequities in rehabilitation, recovery, and social reintegration. Most studies addressed proximate determinants (eg, medication adherence, health literacy, and health behaviors), but upstream determinants (eg, structural racism, housing, income, food security, access to care) were not addressed. A common theoretical model of social determinants can help researchers understand the heterogeneity of social determinants, inform future directions in stroke inequities research, support research in understudied areas within the continuum of care, catalyze implementation of successful interventions in additional settings, allow for comparison across studies, and provide insight into whether addressing upstream or downstream social determinants has the strongest effect on reducing inequities in stroke care and outcomes.

Looking for opportunities to co-enroll: The DISCOVERY study experience.

BACKGROUND: Conducting high-quality stroke trials is complex and costly. Often these trials compete for the attention of researchers and the availability of patients. Enrolling patients in more than one study concurrently has the potential to accelerate recruitment into individual studies. DISCOVERY is a multicenter, inception cohort study of cognitive impairment and dementia following ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. At the request of site investigators, a DISCOVERY committee reviews individual studies for approval of possible concurrent co-enrollment into DISCOVERY. The purpose of this report is to summarize the characteristics and outcomes of studies reviewed by committee for possible co-enrollment. METHODS: This analysis covers studies reviewed from 07/01/2020 to 04/26/2022 by the Site Management Committee (SMC) of the DISCOVERY Recruitment and Retention Core. Characterization of each study included study type, number and length of follow-up visits, and whether there were protocol-required blood draws, brain imaging studies, or cognitive tests. Studies were scored for patient burden and scientific overlap with Discovery. The primary outcome was SMC approval to co-enroll. RESULTS: 59 studies were reviewed, and 69.5% (n = 41, 21 clinical trials; 20 observational studies) were found by the SMC to be appropriate for co-enrollment. Higher patient burden and greater scientific overlap with DISCOVERY reduced the rates of approval for co-enrollment. CONCLUSION: A large number of diverse stroke studies are being run concurrently across the DISCOVERY study network, however, about two-thirds of the studies were considered appropriate for consideration of co-enrollment. Future studies should study how co-enrollment might improve trial network efficiency.

Predictors of Test Positivity, Mortality, and Seropositivity during the Early Coronavirus Disease Epidemic, Orange County, California, USA.

We conducted a detailed analysis of coronavirus disease in a large population center in southern California, USA (Orange County, population 3.2 million), to determine heterogeneity in risks for infection, test positivity, and death. We used a combination of datasets, including a population-representative seroprevalence survey, to assess the actual burden of disease and testing intensity, test positivity, and mortality. In the first month of the local epidemic (March 2020), case incidence clustered in high-income areas. This pattern quickly shifted, and cases next clustered in much higher rates in the north-central area of the county, which has a lower socioeconomic status. Beginning in April 2020, a concentration of reported cases, test positivity, testing intensity, and seropositivity in a north-central area persisted. At the individual level, several factors (e.g., age, race or ethnicity, and ZIP codes with low educational attainment) strongly affected risk for seropositivity and death.

SARS-CoV-2: An Empirical Investigation of Rose's Population-based Logic.

BACKGROUND: Geoffrey Rose's paper "Sick Individuals, Sick Populations" highlights the counterintuitive finding that the largest share of morbidity arises from populations engaging in low- to moderate-risk behavior. Scholars refer to this finding as the prevention paradox. We examine whether this logic applies to SARS-CoV-2 infected persons considered low to moderate risk. METHODS: We conducted a population-representative survey and sero-surveillance study for SARS-CoV-2 among adults in Orange County, California. Participants answered questions about health behaviors and provided a finger-pin-prick sample from 10 July to 16 August 2020. RESULTS: Of the 2979 adults, those reporting low- and moderate-risk behavior accounted for between 78% and 92% of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Asymptomatic individuals, as well as persons with low and moderate scores for self-reported likelihood of having had SARS-CoV-2, accounted for the majority of infections. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support Rose's logic, which encourages public health measures among persons who self-identify as unlikely to have SARS-CoV-2. See video abstract at, http://links.lww.com/EDE/B860.

SARS-CoV-2 acquisition and immune pathogenesis among school-aged learners in four diverse schools.

BACKGROUND: Understanding SARS-CoV-2 infection in children is necessary to reopen schools safely. METHODS: We measured SARS-CoV-2 infection in 320 learners [10.5 ± 2.1 (sd); 7-17 y.o.] at four diverse schools with either remote or on-site learning. Schools A and B served low-income Hispanic learners; school C served many special-needs learners, and all provided predominantly remote instruction. School D served middle- and upper-income learners, with predominantly on-site instruction. Testing occurred in the fall (2020), and 6-8 weeks later during the fall-winter surge (notable for a tenfold increase in COVID-19 cases). Immune responses and mitigation fidelity were also measured. RESULTS: We found SARS-CoV-2 infections in 17 learners only during the surge. School A (97% remote learners) had the highest infection (10/70, 14.3%, p < 0.01) and IgG positivity rates (13/66, 19.7%). School D (93% on-site learners) had the lowest infection and IgG positivity rates (1/63, 1.6%). Mitigation compliance [physical distancing (mean 87.4%) and face-covering (91.3%)] was remarkably high at all schools. Documented SARS-CoV-2-infected learners had neutralizing antibodies (94.7%), robust IFN-γ + T cell responses, and reduced monocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Schools can implement successful mitigation strategies across a wide range of student diversity. Despite asymptomatic to mild SARS-CoV-2 infection, children generate robust humoral and cellular immune responses. IMPACT: Successful COVID-19 mitigation was implemented across a diverse range of schools. School-associated SARS-CoV-2 infections reflect regional rates rather than remote or on-site learning. Seropositive school-aged children with asymptomatic to mild SARS-CoV-2 infections generate robust humoral and cellular immunity.

Considerations in Addressing Social Determinants of Health to Reduce Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Stroke Outcomes in the United States.

We write this article amid a global pandemic and a heightened awareness of the underlying structural racism in the United States, unmasked by the recent killing of George Floyd and multiple other unarmed Black Americans (Spring 2020). Our purpose is to highlight the role of social determinants of health (SDOH) on stroke disparities, to inspire dialogue, to encourage research to deepen our understanding of the mechanism by which SDOH impact stroke outcomes, and to develop strategies to address SDOH and reduce stroke racial/ethnic disparities. We begin by defining SDOH and health disparities in today's context; we then move to discussing SDOH and stroke, particularly secondary stroke prevention, and conclude with possible approaches to addressing SDOH and reducing stroke disparities. These approaches include (1) building on prior work; (2) enhancing our understanding of populations and subpopulations, including intersectionality, of people who experience stroke disparities; (3) prioritizing populations and points along the stroke care continuum when racial/ethnic disparities are most prominent; (4) understanding how SDOH impact stroke disparities in order to test SDOH interventions that contribute to the disparity; (5) partnering with communities; and (6) exploring technological innovations. By building on the prior work and expanding efforts to address SDOH, we believe that stroke disparities can be reduced.

Stroke Warning Information and Faster Treatment (SWIFT): Cost-Effectiveness of a Stroke Preparedness Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Less than 25% of stroke patients arrive to an emergency department within the 3-hour treatment window. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a stroke preparedness behavioral intervention study (Stroke Warning Information and Faster Treatment [SWIFT]), a stroke intervention demonstrating capacity to decrease race-ethnic disparities in ED arrival times. METHODS: Using the literature and SWIFT outcomes for 2 interventions, enhanced educational (EE) materials, and interactive intervention (II), we assess the cost-effectiveness of SWIFT in 2 ways: (1) Markov model, and (2) cost-to-outcome ratio. The Markov model primary outcome was the cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained using the cost-effectiveness threshold of $100 000/QALY. The primary cost-to-outcome endpoint was cost per additional patient with ED arrival <3 hours, stroke knowledge, and preparedness capacity. We assessed the ICER of II and EE versus standard care (SC) from a health sector and societal perspective using 2015 USD, a time horizon of 5 years, and a discount rate of 3%. RESULTS: The cost-effectiveness of the II and EE programs was, respectively, $227.35 and $74.63 per additional arrival <3 hours, $440.72 and $334.09 per additional person with stroke knowledge proficiency, and $655.70 and $811.77 per additional person with preparedness capacity. Using a societal perspective, the ICER for EE versus SC was $84 643 per QALY gained and the ICER for II versus EE was $59 058 per QALY gained. Incorporating fixed costs, EE and II would need to administered to 507 and 1693 or more patients, respectively, to achieve an ICER of $100 000/QALY. CONCLUSION: II was a cost-effective strategy compared with both EE and SC. Nevertheless, high initial fixed costs associated with II may limit its cost-effectiveness in settings with smaller patient populations.

Age-Related Differences in Antihypertensive Medication Adherence in Hispanics: A Cross-Sectional Community-Based Survey in New York City, 2011-2012.

INTRODUCTION: US Hispanics, particularly younger adults in this population, have a higher prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension than do people of other racial/ethnic groups. Little is known about the prevalence and predictors of antihypertensive medication adherence, a major determinant of hypertension control and cardiovascular disease, and differences between age groups in this fast-growing population. METHODS: The cross-sectional study included 1,043 community-dwelling Hispanic adults with hypertension living in 3 northern Manhattan neighborhoods from 2011 through 2012. Age-stratified analyses assessed the prevalence and predictors of high medication adherence (score of 8 on the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale [MMAS-8]) among younger (<60 y) and older (≥60 y) Hispanic adults. RESULTS: Prevalence of high adherence was significantly lower in younger versus older adults (24.5% vs 34.0%, P = .001). In younger adults, heavy alcohol consumption, a longer duration of hypertension, and recent poor physical health were negatively associated with high adherence, but poor self-rated general health was positively associated with high adherence. In older adults, advancing age, higher education level, high knowledge of hypertension control, and private insurance or Medicare versus Medicaid were positively associated with high adherence, whereas recent poor physical health and health-related activity limitations were negatively associated with high adherence. CONCLUSION: Equitable achievement of national hypertension control goals will require attention to suboptimal antihypertensive medication adherence found in this study and other samples of US Hispanics, particularly in younger adults. Age differences in predictors of high adherence highlight the need to tailor efforts to the life stage of people with hypertension.

Ascertainment of Alaska Native Stroke Incidence, 2005-2009: Lessons for Assessing the Global Burden of Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a critical public health issue in the United States and globally. System models to optimally capture stroke incidence in rural and culturally diverse communities are needed. The epidemiological transition to a western lifestyle has been associated with an increased burden of vascular risk factors among Alaska Native (AN) people. The burden of stroke in AN communities remains understudied. METHODS: The Alaska Native Stroke Registry (ANSR) was designed to screen and capture all stroke cases between 2005 and 2009 through its integration into the existing single-payer Alaska Tribal Health System infrastructure. Registry staff received notification each time stroke International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes (430-436) were initiated anywhere in the system. Trained chart abstractors reviewed medical records to document incident strokes among AN patients, which were adjudicated. RESULTS: Between October 2005 and October 2009, over 2100 alerts were screened identifying 514 unique stroke cases, of which 372 were incident strokes. The average annual incidence of stroke (per 100,000) among AN adults was 190.6: 219.2 in men and 164.7 in women. Overall, the ischemic stroke incidence rate was 148.5 per 100,000 with men (184.6) having higher ischemic rates per 100,000 than women (118.3). Men have higher rates of ischemic stroke at all ages, whereas older women experienced higher rates of hemorrhagic strokes over the age of 75 years. CONCLUSIONS: We report a high rate of overall stroke, 190.6 per 100,000. The ANSR methods and findings have implications for other indigenous populations and for global health populations currently undergoing similar epidemiological transitions.

Gender, Social Networks, and Stroke Preparedness in the Stroke Warning Information and Faster Treatment Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The study aimed to investigate the effect of gender on the association between social networks and stroke preparedness as measured by emergency department (ED) arrival within 3 hours of symptom onset. METHODS: As part of the Stroke Warning Information and Faster Treatment study, baseline data on demographics, social networks, and time to ED arrival were collected from 1193 prospectively enrolled stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients at Columbia University Medical Center. Logistic regression was conducted with arrival to the ED ≤3 hours as the outcome, social network characteristics as explanatory variables, and gender as a potential effect modifier. RESULTS: Men who lived alone or were divorced were significantly less likely to arrive ≤3 hours than men who lived with a spouse (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: .31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: .15-0.64) or were married (aOR: .45, 95% CI: .23-0.86). Among women, those who lived alone or were divorced had similar odds of arriving ≤3 hours compared with those who lived with a spouse (aOR: 1.25, 95% CI: .63-2.49) or were married (aOR: .73, 95% CI: .4-1.35). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stroke/TIA, living with someone or being married improved time to arrival in men only. Behavioral interventions to improve stroke preparedness should incorporate gender differences in how social networks affect arrival times.

Majority of 30-Day Readmissions After Intracerebral Hemorrhage Are Related to Infections.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Infections are common after intracerebral hemorrhage, but little is known about the risk of serious infection requiring readmission after hospital discharge. METHODS: To determine if infections are prevalent in patients readmitted within 30 days of discharge, we performed a retrospective cohort study of patients discharged from nonfederal acute care hospitals in California with a primary diagnosis of intracerebral hemorrhage between 2006 and 2010. We excluded patients who died during the index admission, were discharged against medical advice, or were not California residents. Our main outcome was 30-day unplanned readmission with primary infection-related International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code. RESULTS: There were 24 540 index intracerebral hemorrhage visits from 2006 to 2010. Unplanned readmissions occurred in 14.5% (n=3550) of index patients. Of 3550 readmissions, 777 (22%) had an infection-related primary diagnosis code. When evaluating primary and all secondary diagnosis codes, infection was associated with 1826 (51%) of readmissions. Other common diagnoses associated with readmission included stroke-related codes (n=840, 23.7%) and aspiration pneumonitis (n=154, 4.3%). The most common infection-related primary diagnosis codes were septicemia (n=420, 11.8%), pneumonia (n=124, 3.5%), urinary tract infection (n=141, 4.0%), and gastrointestinal infection (n=42, 1.2%). Patients with a primary infection-related International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code on readmission had higher in-hospital mortality compared with other types of readmission (15.6% versus 8.0%, P<0.001). After controlling for other predictors of mortality, primary infection-related readmissions remained associated with in-hospital mortality (relative risk, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-2.2). CONCLUSIONS: Infections are associated with a majority of 30-day readmissions after intracerebral hemorrhage and increased mortality. Efforts should be made to reduce infection-related complications after hospital discharge.

Race/ethnic Differences in Post-stroke Depression (PSD): Findings from the Stroke Warning Information and Faster Treatment (SWIFT) Study.

OBJECTIVE: Post-stroke depression (PSD) is common and associated with poor stroke outcomes, but few studies have examined race/ethnic disparities in PSD. Given the paucity of work and inconsistent findings in this important area of research, our study aimed to examine race/ethnic differences in depression in a multi-ethnic cohort of stroke patients. DESIGN: Longitudinal. SETTING: Prospective trial of a post-stroke educational intervention. PARTICIPANTS: 1,193 mild/moderate ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We used the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale to assess subthreshold (CES-D score 8-15) and full (CES-D score ≥ 16) depression at one month ("early") and 12 months ("late") following stroke. Multinomial logistic regression analyses examined the association between race/ethnicity and early and late PSD separately. RESULTS: The prevalence of subthreshold and full PSD was 22.5% and 32.6% in the early period and 22.0% and 27.4% in the late period, respectively. Hispanics had 60% lower odds of early full PSD compared with non-Hispanic Whites after adjusting for other covariates (OR=.4, 95% CI: .2, .8). Race/ethnicity was not significantly associated with late PSD. CONCLUSIONS: Hispanic stroke patients had half the odds of PSD in early period compared with Whites, but no difference was found in the later period. Further studies comparing trajectories of PSD between race/ethnic groups may further our understanding of race/ethnic disparities in PSD and help identify effective interventions.

Examining Barriers and Practices to Recruitment and Retention in Stroke Clinical Trials.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The National Institutes of Health policy calls for the inclusion of under-represented groups, such as women and minorities, in clinical research. Poor minority recruitment and retention in stroke clinical trials remain a significant challenge limiting safety and efficacy in a general population. Previous research examines participant barriers to clinical trial involvement, but little is known about the investigator perspective. This study addresses this gap and examines researcher-reported barriers and best practices of minority involvement in stroke clinical trials. METHODS: Quantitative and qualitative methods, including surveys, focus groups, and key informant interviews were used. RESULTS: In a survey of 93 prominent stroke researchers, 43 (51.2%; 70% response rate) respondents reported proactively setting recruitment goals for minority inclusion, 29 respondents (36.3%) reported requiring cultural competency staff training, and 44 respondents (51.2%) reported using community consultation about trial design. Focus groups and key informant interviews highlighted structural and institutional challenges to recruitment of minorities, including mistrust of the research/medical enterprise, poor communication, and lack of understanding of clinical trials. Researcher-identified best practices included using standardized project management procedures and protocols (eg, realistic budgeting to support challenges in recruitment, such as travel/parking reimbursement for participants), research staff cultural competency and communication training, and developing and fostering community partnerships that guide the research process. CONCLUSIONS: This study's formative evaluation contributes a new dimension to the literature as it highlights researcher-reported barriers and best practices for enhancing participation of minority populations into stroke clinical trials.

Comparison of Acute Stroke Preparedness Strategies to Decrease Emergency Department Arrival Time in a Multiethnic Cohort: The Stroke Warning Information and Faster Treatment Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Less than 25% of stroke patients arrive to an emergency department within the 3-hour treatment window. Stroke Warning Information and Faster Treatment (SWIFT) compared an interactive intervention (II) with enhanced educational (EE) materials on recurrent stroke arrival times in a prospective cohort of multiethnic stroke/transient ischemic attack survivors. METHODS: A single-center randomized controlled trial (2005-2011) randomized participants to EE (bilingual stroke preparedness materials) or II (EE plus in-hospital sessions). We assessed differences by randomization in the proportion arriving to emergency department <3 hours, prepost intervention arrival <3 hours, incidence rate ratio for total events, and stroke knowledge and preparedness capacity. RESULTS: SWIFT randomized 1193 participants (592 EE, 601 II): mean age 63 years; 50% female, 17% black, 51% Hispanic, 26% white. At baseline, 28% arrived to emergency department <3 hours. Over 5 years, first recurrent stroke (n=133), transient ischemic attacks (n=54), or stroke mimics (n=37) were documented in 224 participants. Incidence rate ratio=1.31 (95% confidence interval=1.05-1.63; II to EE). Among II, 40% arrived <3 hours versus 46% EE (P=0.33). In prepost analysis, there was a 49% increase in the proportion arriving <3 hours (P=0.001), greatest among Hispanics (63%, P<0.003). II had greater stroke knowledge at 1 month (odds ratio=1.63; 1.23-2.15). II had higher preparedness capacity at 1 month (odds ratio=3.36; 1.86, 6.10) and 12 months (odds ratio=7.64; 2.49, 23.49). CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in arrival <3 hours overall between II and EE; the proportion arriving <3 hours increased in both groups and in race-ethnic minorities. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00415389.

Dietary interventions to lower the risk of stroke.

Stroke is a major cause of death and permanent disability in the USA; primary prevention and risk reduction are a critical health concern. A wealth of research investigated stroke risk factors, including primary hypertension, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation. Research has expanded to examine lifestyle factors, such as diet/dietary patterns, physical activity, cigarette smoking, and obesity distribution, as critical modifiable risk factors. Emerging evidence suggests diet/dietary patterns may lead to heightened risk of stroke. Despite a growing literature, research has yet to implement dietary interventions to explore this relationship within a US sample. This review discusses available clinical research findings reporting on the relationship among diet/dietary patterns, cardiovascular disease, and risk of stroke. We will assess challenges, limitations, and controversies, and address future research directions.

The Association Between Online Health Information-Seeking Behaviors and Health Behaviors Among Hispanics in New York City: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Hispanics are the fastest-growing minority group in the United States and they suffer from a disproportionate burden of chronic diseases. Studies have shown that online health information has the potential to affect health behaviors and influence management of chronic disease for a significant proportion of the population, but little research has focused on Hispanics. OBJECTIVE: The specific aim of this descriptive, cross-sectional study was to examine the association between online health information-seeking behaviors and health behaviors (physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, alcohol use, and hypertension medication adherence) among Hispanics. METHODS: Data were collected from a convenience sample (N=2680) of Hispanics living in northern Manhattan by bilingual community health workers in a face-to-face interview and analyzed using linear and ordinal logistic regression. Variable selection and statistical analyses were guided by the Integrative Model of eHealth Use. RESULTS: Only 7.38% (198/2680) of the sample reported online health information-seeking behaviors. Levels of moderate physical activity and fruit, vegetable, and alcohol consumption were low. Among individuals taking hypertension medication (n=825), adherence was reported as high by approximately one-third (30.9%, 255/825) of the sample. Controlling for demographic, situational, and literacy variables, online health information-seeking behaviors were significantly associated with fruit (ß=0.35, 95% CI 0.08-0.62, P=.01) and vegetable (ß=0.36, 95% CI 0.06-0.65, P=.02) consumption and physical activity (ß=3.73, 95% CI 1.99-5.46, P<.001), but not alcohol consumption or hypertension medication adherence. In the regression models, literacy factors, which were used as control variables, were associated with 3 health behaviors: social networking site membership (used to measure one dimension of computer literacy) was associated with fruit consumption (ß=0.23, 95% CI 0.05-0.42, P=.02), health literacy was associated with alcohol consumption (ß=0.44, 95% CI 0.24-0.63, P<.001), and hypertension medication adherence (ß=-0.32, 95% CI -0.62 to -0.03, P=.03). Models explained only a small amount of the variance in health behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Given the promising, although modest, associations between online health information-seeking behaviors and some health behaviors, efforts are needed to improve Hispanics' ability to access and understand health information and to enhance the availability of online health information that is suitable in terms of language, readability level, and cultural relevance.

Methodology for a community-based stroke preparedness intervention: the Acute Stroke Program of Interventions Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Acute stroke education has focused on stroke symptom recognition. Lack of education about stroke preparedness and appropriate actions may prevent people from seeking immediate care. Few interventions have rigorously evaluated preparedness strategies in multiethnic community settings. METHODS: The Acute Stroke Program of Interventions Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities (ASPIRE) project is a multilevel program using a community-engaged approach to stroke preparedness targeted to underserved black communities in the District of Columbia. This intervention aimed to decrease acute stroke presentation times and increase intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator utilization for acute ischemic stroke. RESULTS: Phase 1 included (1) enhancement of focus of emergency medical services on acute stroke; (2) hospital collaborations to implement and enrich acute stroke protocols and transition District of Columbia hospitals toward primary stroke center certification; and (3) preintervention acute stroke patient data collection in all 7 acute care District of Columbia hospitals. A community advisory committee, focus groups, and surveys identified perceptions of barriers to emergency stroke care. Phase 2 included a pilot intervention and subsequent citywide intervention rollout. A total of 531 community interventions were conducted, reaching >10,256 participants; 3289 intervention evaluations were performed, and 19,000 preparedness bracelets and 14,000 stroke warning magnets were distributed. Phase 3 included an evaluation of emergency medical services and hospital processes for acute stroke care and a year-long postintervention acute stroke data collection period to assess changes in intravenous tissue-type plasminogen utilization. CONCLUSIONS: We report the methods, feasibility, and preintervention data collection efforts of the ASPIRE intervention. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00724555.

Guidelines for the primary prevention of stroke: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

The aim of this updated statement is to provide comprehensive and timely evidence-based recommendations on the prevention of stroke among individuals who have not previously experienced a stroke or transient ischemic attack. Evidence-based recommendations are included for the control of risk factors, interventional approaches to atherosclerotic disease of the cervicocephalic circulation, and antithrombotic treatments for preventing thrombotic and thromboembolic stroke. Further recommendations are provided for genetic and pharmacogenetic testing and for the prevention of stroke in a variety of other specific circumstances, including sickle cell disease and patent foramen ovale.

Sleep duration is associated with white matter hyperintensity volume in older adults: the Northern Manhattan Study.

Self-reports of long or short sleep durations have indicated an association with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but there are limited data evaluating their association with white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV), a marker of cerebral small vessel disease. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of self-reported sleep duration to test for a correlation with white matter hyperintensities, measured by quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in the Northern Manhattan Study. We used multivariable linear regression models to assess associations between both short (<6 h) and long (≥9 h) sleep durations and log-transformed WMHV, adjusting for demographic, behavioural and vascular risk factors. A total of 1244 participants, mean age 70 ± 9 years, 61% women and 68% Hispanics were analysed with magnetic resonance brain imaging and self-reported sleep duration. Short sleep was reported by 23% (n = 293) and long sleep by 10% (n = 121) of the sample. Long sleep (ß = 0.178; P = 0.035), but not short sleep (ß = -0.053; P = 0.357), was associated with greater log-WMHV in fully adjusted models. We observed an interaction between sleep duration, diabetes mellitus and log-WMHV (P = 0.07). In fully adjusted models, stratified analysis showed that long sleep duration was associated with greater WMHV only in those with diabetes (ß = 0.78; P = 0.0314), but not in those without diabetes (ß = 0.022; P = 0.2), whereas short sleep was not associated with white matter hyperintensities in those with or without diabetes. In conclusion, long sleep duration was associated with a greater burden of white matter lesions in this stroke-free urban sample. The association was seen mainly among those with diabetes mellitus.