ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To assess the association of qualitative and quantitative infarct characteristics and 3 cognitive outcome tests, namely the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) for mild cognitive impairment, the Boston Naming Test for visual confrontation naming, and the Sunnybrook Neglect Assessment Procedure for neglect, in large vessel occlusion stroke. METHODS: Secondary observational cohort study using data from the randomized-controlled ESCAPE-NA1 trial (Safety and Efficacy of Nerinetide in Subjects Undergoing Endovascular Thrombectomy for Stroke), in which patients with large vessel occlusion undergoing endovascular treatment were randomized to receive either intravenous Nerinetide or placebo. MOCA, Sunnybrook Neglect Assessment Procedure, and 15-item Boston Naming Test were obtained at 90 days. Total infarct volume, gray matter, and white matter infarct volumes were manually measured on 24-hour follow-up imaging. Infarcts were also visually classified as either involving the gray matter only or both the gray and white matter and scattered versus territorial. Associations of infarct variables and cognitive outcomes were analyzed using multivariable ordinal or binary logistic regression models. RESULTS: Of 1105 patients enrolled in ESCAPE-NA1, 1026 patients with visible infarcts on 24-hour follow-up imaging were included. MOCA and Sunnybrook Neglect Assessment Procedure were available for 706 (68.8%) patients and the 15-item Boston Naming Test was available for 682 (66.5%) patients. Total infarct volume was associated with worse MOCA scores (adjusted common odds ratio per 10 mL increase, 1.05 [95% CI, 1.04-1.06]). After adjusting for baseline variables and total infarct volume, mixed gray and white matter involvement (versus gray matter-only adjusted common odds ratio, 1.92 [95% CI, 1.37-2.69]), white matter infarct volume (adjusted common odds ratio per 10 mL increase 1.36 [95% CI, 1.18-1.58]) and territorial (versus scattered) infarct pattern (adjusted common odds ratio, 1.65 [95% CI, 1.15-2.38]) were associated with worse MOCA scores. Results for Sunnybrook Neglect Assessment Procedure and 15-item Boston Naming Test were similar, except for the territorial infarct pattern, which did not reach statistical significance in multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Besides total infarct volume, infarcts that involve the white matter and that show a territorial distribution were associated with worse cognitive outcomes, even after adjusting for total infarct volume.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The use of thrombolysis in acute stroke is an important indicator of the quality of stroke care, because it requires health care providers to work collaboratively, rapidly and accurately to optimize patient outcomes. We sought to assess the quality of hyperacute stroke care in Canada using the rate of thrombolysis as the key indicator. METHODS: We used national administrative data and a chart audit in a retrospective cohort design. We identified discharge diagnoses of stroke in the 10 Canadian provinces between 2008 and 2009. We drew a sample (over-weighted by population and hospital size) for a detailed chart review that was focused on identifying indicators of acute stroke care. We determined the proportions of thrombolysis use, complications and outcomes, adjusted for age and sex and stratified by type of hospital. RESULTS: Our final audit sample included 9588 patient charts, representative of 88% of the 43 651 cases of stroke for which patients were admitted to hospital in Canada. A total of 5.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.1-5.6) of patients with stroke and 6.1% (95% CI 5.8-6.4) of patients with ischemic stroke received thrombolysis. Comprehensive stroke centres used thrombolysis in about one-third of ischemic cases - double the rate seen in primary stroke centres. Often (35%-49% of the time), thrombolysis was not given owing to an interval of more than 4.5 hours between stroke onset and arrival at hospital. INTERPRETATION: The use of thrombolysis for acute stroke in Canada remains low and is limited by delays in both the arrival of patients to hospital and the in-hospital processes of neuroimaging and thrombolysis administration. Our data show the critical need for concerted national efforts to improve education regarding the treatment of acute stroke and speed up stroke management in the hospital setting.
