Race-ethnicity, age, and heart failure in ischemic stroke.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Race-ethnic disparities contribute to cardiovascular morbidity. Heart failure (HF) is highly prevalent in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and associated with worse outcomes. We hypothesized race-ethnic differences exist in the prevalence of HF among patients with AIS, particularly in younger patients, and in a manner not fully explained by cardiovascular profiles. METHODS: Patients with AIS in the National Inpatient Sample (2016-2019) were categorized as young (<50 years), middle (50-64) and older (≥65) age. Interaction between age and race-ethnicity on the presence of comorbid HF was examined, adjusting for vascular risk factors. Effect modification on in-hospital mortality and prolonged hospitalization across race-ethnic groups and age was also examined. RESULTS: Of 398,470 AIS patients, 16.2 % had HF. HF patients were older (73.7 vs. 69.5 years, P < 0.001), had a lower proportion of White, Hispanic and Asian/PI individuals but a larger proportion of patients of Black race (21.0 vs. 16.4 %, P < 0.001). Race-ethnicity modified the relationship between HF and age (Pinteraction < 0.001). Stroke patients of Black race had the greatest odds of having HF across all age groups, however differences between Black and White patients were most pronounced in young adults (OR 2.08, 95 % CI 1.91-2.27) after adjusting for vascular risk factors. Among patients with HF, Black race was associated with reduced risk of in-hospital mortality but greater likelihood of prolonged hospitalization at middle and older age. CONCLUSION: HF is highly prevalent in stroke patients of Black race, particularly in younger cohorts, and in a manner not fully explained by cardiovascular profiles.