Criteria and Indicators for Centers of Clinical Excellence in Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation: A Global Consensus Facilitated by ISRRA.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the International Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Alliance is to create a world where worldwide collaboration brings major breakthroughs for the millions of people living with stroke. A key pillar of this work is to define globally relevant criteria for centers that aspire to deliver excellent clinical rehabilitation and generate exceptional outcomes for patients. OBJECTIVES: This paper presents consensus work conducted with an international group of expert stroke recovery and rehabilitation researchers, clinicians, and people living with stroke to identify and define criteria and measurable indicators for Centers of Clinical Excellence (CoCE) in stroke recovery and rehabilitation. These were intentionally developed to be ambitious and internationally relevant, regardless of a country's development or income status, to drive global improvement in stroke services. METHODS: Criteria and specific measurable indicators for CoCE were collaboratively developed by an international panel of stroke recovery and rehabilitation experts from 10 countries and consumer groups from 5 countries. RESULTS: The criteria and associated indicators, ranked in order of importance, focused upon (i) optimal outcome, (ii) research culture, (iii) working collaboratively with people living with stroke, (iv) knowledge exchange, (v) leadership, (vi) education, and (vii) advocacy. Work is currently underway to user-test the criteria and indicators in 14 rehabilitation centers in 10 different countries. CONCLUSIONS: We anticipate that use of the criteria and indicators could support individual organizations to further develop their services and, more widely, provide a mechanism by which clinical excellence can be articulated and shared to generate global improvements in stroke care.

Sex Differences of Hospital and Emergency Department Presentations of Stroke in Canada.

We provide an updated estimate of adult stroke event rates by age group, sex, and stroke type using Canadian administrative data. In the 2017-2018 fiscal year, there were an estimated 81,781 hospital or emergency department visits for stroke events in Canada, excluding Quebec. Our findings show that overall, the event rate of stroke is similar between women and men. There were slight differences in stroke event rate at various ages by sex and stroke type and emerging patterns warrant attention in future studies. Our findings emphasize the importance of continuous surveillance to monitor the epidemiology of stroke in Canada.

Estimating the Number of Hospital or Emergency Department Presentations for Stroke in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Although age-standardized stroke occurrence has been decreasing, the absolute number of stroke events globally, and in Canada, is increasing. Stroke surveillance is necessary for health services planning, informing research design, and public health messaging. We used administrative data to estimate the number of stroke events resulting in hospital or emergency department presentation across Canada in the 2017-18 fiscal year. METHODS: Hospitalization data were obtained from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) Discharge Abstract Database and the Ministry of Health and Social Services in Quebec. Emergency department data were obtained from the CIHI National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (Alberta and Ontario). Stroke events were identified using ICD-10 coding. Data were linked into episodes of care to account for readmissions and interfacility transfers. Projections for emergency department visits for provinces/territories outside of Alberta and Ontario were generated based upon age and sex-standardized estimates from Alberta and Ontario. RESULTS: In the 2017-18 fiscal year, there were 108,707 stroke events resulting in hospital or emergency department presentation across the country. This was made up of 54,357 events resulting in hospital admission and 54,350 events resulting in only emergency department presentation. The events resulting in only emergency department presentation consisted of 25,941 events observed in Alberta and Ontario and a projection of 28,409 events across the rest of the country. CONCLUSIONS: We estimate a stroke event resulting in hospital or emergency department presentation occurs every 5 minutes in Canada.

Exploring the poststroke experiences and unmet needs of South Asian communities in high-income countries: a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: South Asian groups experience a higher burden of stroke and poorer functional outcomes after stroke than their White counterparts. However, within the stroke literature, there has been little focus on the unique poststroke needs of the South Asian community and opportunities for community-based services to address these needs. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the current knowledge base related to the experiences and needs, including unmet needs of people living with stroke and their caregivers from South Asian communities living in high-income countries? AIMS: This is a protocol for a review that intends to synthesise existing studies of the poststroke experiences and needs of individuals from South Asian communities to uncover opportunities for community-based resources to address these needs. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This scoping review methodology will be guided by modified Arksey and O'Malley (2005) and Joanna Briggs Institute frameworks. A search on OVID Medline, OVID Embase, OVID PsycINFO, EBSCO CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, Scopus and Global Index Medicus will be conducted to synthesise existing peer-reviewed literature (all study designs). Grey literature will be searched through detailed hand searching. Literature focusing on the poststroke experiences and needs of South Asian groups impacted by stroke residing in high-income countries will be included. Study descriptors will be extracted (eg, study location, type, methodology). Data will be analysed descriptively and thematically. Team meetings will provide opportunities for peer debriefing, thereby enhancing analytic rigour. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Findings will enhance knowledge of the poststroke experiences and needs of South Asian communities living in high-income countries and identify actionable opportunities for community-based resources to address needs. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval was not required for this scoping review protocol. Community-based organisations will be consulted to provide insights into the analysis and assist with dissemination. Dissemination of findings will also occur through a publication and academic presentations.

World Stroke Organization (WSO): Global Stroke Fact Sheet 2022.

Stroke remains the second-leading cause of death and the third-leading cause of death and disability combined (as expressed by disability-adjusted life-years lost - DALYs) in the world. The estimated global cost of stroke is over US$721 billion (0.66% of the global GDP). From 1990 to 2019, the burden (in terms of the absolute number of cases) increased substantially (70.0% increase in incident strokes, 43.0% deaths from stroke, 102.0% prevalent strokes, and 143.0% DALYs), with the bulk of the global stroke burden (86.0% of deaths and 89.0% of DALYs) residing in lower-income and lower-middle-income countries (LMIC). This World Stroke Organisation (WSO) Global Stroke Fact Sheet 2022 provides the most updated information that can be used to inform communication with all internal and external stakeholders; all statistics have been reviewed and approved for use by the WSO Executive Committee as well as leaders from the Global Burden of Disease research group.

The Impact of Stroke Public Awareness Campaigns Differs Between Sociodemographic Groups.

BACKGROUND: Prehospital delays are a major obstacle to timely reperfusion therapy in acute ischemic stroke. Stroke sign recognition, however, remains poor in the community. We present an analysis of repeated surveys to assess the impact of Face, Arm, Speech, Time (FAST) public awareness campaigns on stroke knowledge. METHODS: Four cross-sectional surveys were conducted between July 2016 and January 2019 in the province of Quebec, Canada (n = 2,451). Knowledge of FAST stroke signs (face drooping, arm weakness and speech difficulties) was assessed with open-ended questions. A bilingual English/French FAST public awareness campaign preceded survey waves 1-3 and two campaigns preceded wave 4. We used multivariable ordinal regression models weighted for age and sex to assess FAST stroke sign knowledge. RESULTS: We observed an overall significant improvement of 26% in FAST stroke sign knowledge between survey waves 1 and 4 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.55; p = 0.035). After the last campaign, however, 30.5% (95% CI: 27.5, 33.6) of people were still unable to name a single FAST sign. Factors associated with worse performance were male sex (OR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.53, 0.86; p = 0.002) and retirement (OR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.35, 0.83; p = 0.005). People with lower household income and education had a tendency towards worse stroke sign knowledge and were significantly less aware of the FAST campaigns. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of FAST stroke signs in the general population improved after multiple public awareness campaigns, although it remained low overall. Future FAST campaigns should especially target men, retired people and individuals with a lower socioeconomic status.

Reduction in Stroke After Transient Ischemic Attack in a Province-Wide Cohort Between 2003 and 2015.

BACKGROUND: Improvements in management of transient ischemic attack (TIA) have decreased stroke and mortality post-TIA. Studies examining trends over time on a provincial level are limited. We analyzed whether efforts to improve management have decreased the rate of stroke and mortality after TIA from 2003 to 2015 across an entire province. METHODS: Using administrative data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information's (CIHI) databases from 2003 to 2015, we identified a cohort of patients with a diagnosis of TIA upon discharge from the emergency department (ED). We examined stroke rates at Day 1, 2, 7, 30, 90, 180, and 365 post-TIA and 1-year mortality rates and compared trends over time between 2003 and 2015. RESULTS: From 2003 to 2015 in Ontario, there were 61,710 patients with an ED diagnosis of TIA. Linear regressions of stroke after the index TIA showed a significant decline between 2003 and 2015, decreasing by 25% at Day 180 and 32% at 1 year (p < 0.01). The 1-year stroke rate decreased from 6.0% in 2003 to 3.4% in 2015. Early (within 48 h) stroke after TIA continued to represent approximately half of the 1-year event rates. The 1-year mortality rate after ED discharge following a TIA decreased from 1.3% in 2003 to 0.3% in 2015 (p < 0.001). INTERPRETATION: At a province-wide level, 1-year rates of stroke and mortality after TIA have declined significantly between 2003 and 2015, suggesting that efforts to improve management may have contributed toward the decline in long-term risk of stroke and mortality. Continued efforts are needed to further reduce the immediate risk of stroke following a TIA.

Stroke systems of care in high-income countries: what is optimal?

Stroke is a complex, time-sensitive, medical emergency that requires well functioning systems of care to optimise treatment and improve patient outcomes. Education and training campaigns are needed to improve both the recognition of stroke among the general public and the response of emergency medical services. Specialised stroke ambulances (mobile stroke units) have been piloted in many cities to speed up the diagnosis, triage, and emergency treatment of people with acute stroke symptoms. Hospital-based interdisciplinary stroke units remain the central feature of a modern stroke service. Many have now developed a role in the very early phase (hyperacute units) plus outreach for patients who return home (early supported discharge services). Different levels (comprehensive and primary) of stroke centre and telemedicine networks have been developed to coordinate the various service components with specialist investigations and interventions including rehabilitation. Major challenges include the harmonisation of resources for stroke across the whole patient journey (including the rapid, accurate triage of patients who require highly specialised treatment in comprehensive stroke centres) and the development of technology to improve communication across different parts of a service.

Hypertension Canada's 2020 Comprehensive Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, Risk Assessment, and Treatment of Hypertension in Adults and Children.

Hypertension Canada's 2020 guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment of hypertension in adults and children provide comprehensive, evidence-based guidance for health care professionals and patients. Hypertension Canada develops the guidelines using rigourous methodology, carefully mitigating the risk of bias in our process. All draft recommendations undergo critical review by expert methodologists without conflict to ensure quality. Our guideline panel is diverse, including multiple health professional groups (nurses, pharmacy, academics, and physicians), and worked in concert with experts in primary care and implementation to ensure optimal usability. The 2020 guidelines include new guidance on the management of resistant hypertension and the management of hypertension in women planning pregnancy.

Declining Admission and Mortality Rates for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Canada Between 2004 and 2015.

Background and Purpose- The purpose of this study was to assess recent trends in the admission and mortality rates for subarachnoid hemorrhage in Canada. Methods- This retrospective cross-sectional study was based on data retrieved from the Canadian Institute for Health Information for all patients diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage in Canada between 2004 and 2015. Adjusted admission rate, in-hospital mortality rates, and discharge disposition were calculated. Results- A total of 19 765 patients were diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage between 2004 and 2015. The mean age was 58.1 years, and 40.3% were men. The annual hospitalization rate was 6.34 per 100 000 person-years, declining by -0.67% annually. In-hospital mortality rate was 21.5%. Conclusions- The Canadian subarachnoid hemorrhage admission and mortality rates are lower than previously reported, with a declining trend.

Hypertension Canada's 2018 Guidelines for Diagnosis, Risk Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment of Hypertension in Adults and Children.

Hypertension Canada provides annually updated, evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis, assessment, prevention, and treatment of hypertension in adults and children. This year, the adult and pediatric guidelines are combined in one document. The new 2018 pregnancy-specific hypertension guidelines are published separately. For 2018, 5 new guidelines are introduced, and 1 existing guideline on the blood pressure thresholds and targets in the setting of thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke is revised. The use of validated wrist devices for the estimation of blood pressure in individuals with large arm circumference is now included. Guidance is provided for the follow-up measurements of blood pressure, with the use of standardized methods and electronic (oscillometric) upper arm devices in individuals with hypertension, and either ambulatory blood pressure monitoring or home blood pressure monitoring in individuals with white coat effect. We specify that all individuals with hypertension should have an assessment of global cardiovascular risk to promote health behaviours that lower blood pressure. Finally, an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor combination should be used in place of either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker in individuals with heart failure (with ejection fraction < 40%) who are symptomatic despite appropriate doses of guideline-directed heart failure therapies. The specific evidence and rationale underlying each of these guidelines are discussed.

Hypertension Canada's 2017 Guidelines for Diagnosis, Risk Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment of Hypertension in Adults.

Hypertension Canada provides annually updated, evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis, assessment, prevention, and treatment of hypertension. This year, we introduce 10 new guidelines. Three previous guidelines have been revised and 5 have been removed. Previous age and frailty distinctions have been removed as considerations for when to initiate antihypertensive therapy. In the presence of macrovascular target organ damage, or in those with independent cardiovascular risk factors, antihypertensive therapy should be considered for all individuals with elevated average systolic nonautomated office blood pressure (non-AOBP) readings ≥ 140 mm Hg. For individuals with diastolic hypertension (with or without systolic hypertension), fixed-dose single-pill combinations are now recommended as an initial treatment option. Preference is given to pills containing an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker in combination with either a calcium channel blocker or diuretic. Whenever a diuretic is selected as monotherapy, longer-acting agents are preferred. In patients with established ischemic heart disease, caution should be exercised in lowering diastolic non-AOBP to ≤ 60 mm Hg, especially in the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy. After a hemorrhagic stroke, in the first 24 hours, systolic non-AOBP lowering to < 140 mm Hg is not recommended. Finally, guidance is now provided for screening, initial diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of renovascular hypertension arising from fibromuscular dysplasia. The specific evidence and rationale underlying each of these guidelines are discussed.