The Cost of After-Hour Electroencephalography.

Background and Objectives: High costs associated with after-hour electroencephalography (EEG) constitute a barrier for financially constrained hospitals to provide this neurodiagnostic procedure outside regular working hours. Our study aims to deepen our understanding of the cost elements involved in delivering EEG services during after-hours. Methods: We accessed publicly available data sets and created a cost model depending on 3 most commonly seen staffing scenarios: (1) technologist on-site, (2) technologist on-call from home, and (3) a hybrid of the two. Results: Cost of EEG depends on the volume of testing and the staffing plan. Within the various cost elements, labor cost of EEG technologists is the predominant expenditure, which varies across geographic regions and urban areas. Discussion: We provide a model to explain why access to EEGs during after-hours has a substantial expense. This model provides a cost calculator tool (made available as part of this publication in eAppendix 1, links.lww.com/CPJ/A513) to estimate the cost of EEG platform based on site-specific staffing scenarios and annual volume.

Trends in American Indian/Alaskan native self-reported stroke prevalence and associated modifiable risk factors in the United States from 2011-2021.

BACKGROUND: Stroke prevalence varies by race/ethnicity, as do the risk factors that elevate the risk of stroke. Prior analyses have suggested that American Indian/Alaskan Natives (AI/AN) have higher rates of stroke and vascular risk factors. METHODS: We included biyearly data from the 2011-2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys of adults (age ≥18) in the United States. We describe survey-weighted prevalence of stroke per self-report by race and ethnicity. In patients with self-reported stroke (SRS), we also describe the prevalence of modifiable vascular risk factors. RESULTS: The weighted number of U.S. participants represented in BRFSS surveys increased from 237,486,646 in 2011 to 245,350,089 in 2021. SRS prevalence increased from 2.9% in 2011 to 3.3% in 2021 (p<0.001). Amongst all race/ethnicity groups, the prevalence of stroke was highest in AI/AN at 5.4% and 5.6% in 2011 and 2021, compared to 3.0% and 3.4% for White adults (p<0.001). AI/AN with SRS were also the most likely to have four or more vascular risk factors in both 2011 and 2021 at 23.9% and 26.4% compared to 18.2% and 19.6% in White adults (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: From 2011-2021 in the United States, AI/AN consistently had the highest prevalence of self-reported stroke and highest overall burden of modifiable vascular risk factors. This persistent health disparity leaves AI/AN more susceptible to both incident and recurrent stroke.

Burden of Neurologic Health Care and Incident Neurologic Diagnoses in the Year After COVID-19 or Influenza Hospitalization.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Following the outbreak of viral infections from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus in 2019 (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]), reports emerged of long-term neurologic sequelae in survivors. To better understand the burden of neurologic health care and incident neurologic diagnoses in the year after COVID-19 vs influenza, we performed an analysis of patient-level data from a large collection of electronic health records (EMR). METHODS: We acquired deidentified data from TriNetX, a global health research network providing access to EMR data. We included individuals aged 18 years or older during index event, defined as hospital-based care for COVID-19 (from April 1, 2020, until November 15, 2021) or influenza (from 2016 to 2019). The study outcomes were subsequent health care encounters over the following year for 6 neurologic diagnoses including migraine, epilepsy, stroke, neuropathy, movement disorders, and dementia. We also created a composite of the 6 diagnoses as an incident event, which we call "incident neurologic diagnoses." We performed a 1:1 complete case nearest-neighbor propensity score match on age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, US census region patient residence, preindex years of available data, and Elixhauser comorbidity score. We fit time-to-event models and reported hazard ratios for COVID-19 vs influenza infection. RESULTS: After propensity score matching, we had a balanced cohort of 77,272 individuals with COVID-19 and 77,272 individuals with influenza. The mean age was 51.0 ± 19.7 years, 57.7% were female, and 41.5% were White. Compared with patients with influenza, patients with COVID-19 had a lower risk of subsequent care for migraine (HR 0.645, 95% CI 0.604-0.687), epilepsy (HR 0.783, 95% CI 0.727-0.843), neuropathies (HR 0.567, 95% CI 0.532-0.604), movement disorders (HR 0.644, 95% CI 0.598-0.693), stroke (HR 0.904, 95% CI 0.845-0.967), or dementia (HR 0.931, 95% CI 0.870-0.996). Postinfection incident neurologic diagnoses were observed in 2.79% of the COVID-19 cohort vs 4.91% of the influenza cohort (HR 0.618, 95% CI 0.582-0.657). DISCUSSION: Compared with a matched cohort of adults with a hospitalization or emergency department visit for influenza infection, those with COVID-19 had significantly fewer health care encounters for 6 major neurologic diagnoses over a year of follow-up. Furthermore, we found that COVID-19 infection was associated with a lower risk of an incident neurologic diagnosis in the year after infection.

Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke After Cardiac Interventions in the United States.

Importance: Ischemic stroke is a serious complication of cardiac intervention, including surgery and percutaneous procedures. Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is an effective treatment for ischemic stroke and may be particularly important for cardiac intervention patients who often cannot receive intravenous thrombolysis. Objective: To examine trends in EVT for ischemic stroke during hospitalization of patients with cardiac interventions vs those without in the United States. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study involved a retrospective analysis using data for 4888 US hospitals from the 2016-2020 National Inpatient Sample database. Participants included adults (age ≥18 years) with ischemic stroke (per codes from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification), who were organized into study groups of hospitalized patients with cardiac interventions vs without. Individuals were excluded from the study if they had either procedure prior to admission, EVT prior to cardiac intervention, EVT more than 3 days after admission or cardiac intervention, or endocarditis. Data were analyzed from April 2023 to October 2023. Exposures: Cardiac intervention during admission. Main Outcomes and Measures: The odds of undergoing EVT by cardiac intervention status were calculated using multivariable logistic regression. Adjustments were made for stroke severity in the subgroup of patients who had a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score documented. As a secondary outcome, the odds of discharge home by EVT status after cardiac intervention were modeled. Results: Among 634 407 hospitalizations, the mean (SD) age of the patients was 69.8 (14.1) years, 318 363 patients (50.2%) were male, and 316 044 (49.8%) were female. A total of 12 093 had a cardiac intervention. An NIHSS score was reported in 218 576 admissions, 216 035 (34.7%) without cardiac intervention and 2541 (21.0%) with cardiac intervention (P < .001). EVT was performed in 23 660 patients (3.8%) without cardiac intervention vs 194 (1.6%) of those with cardiac intervention (P < .001). After adjustment for potential confounders, EVT was less likely to be performed in stroke patients with cardiac intervention vs those without (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.27; 95% CI, 0.23-0.31), which remained consistent after adjusting for NIHSS score (aOR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.22-0.35). Among individuals with a cardiac intervention, receiving EVT was associated with a 2-fold higher chance of discharge home (aOR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.14-4.29). Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, patients hospitalized with ischemic stroke and cardiac intervention may be less than half as likely to receive EVT as those without cardiac intervention. Given the known benefit of EVT, there is a need to better understand the reasons for lower rates of EVT in this patient population.

Cost-benefit analysis of intraoperative neuromonitoring for cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) can detect large vessel occlusion (LVO) in real-time during surgery. The aim of this study was to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of utilizing IONM among patients undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: A decision-analysis tree with terminal Markov nodes was constructed to model functional outcome, as measured via the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), among 65-year-old patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Our cost-benefit analysis compares the use of IONM (electroencephalography and somatosensory evoked potential) against no IONM in preventing neurological complications from perioperative LVO during cardiac surgery. The study was performed over a lifetime horizon from a societal perspective in the United States. Base case and one-way probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: At a baseline LVO rate of 0.31%, the mean attributable lifetime expenditure for IONM-monitored cardiac surgeries relative to unmonitored cardiac surgeries was $1047.41 (95% CI, $742.12 - $1445.10). At a critical LVO rate of approximately 3.67%, the costs of both monitored and unmonitored cardiac surgeries were the same. Above this critical rate, implementing IONM became cost-saving. On one-way sensitivity analysis, variation in LVO rate from 0% - 10% caused lifetime costs attributable to receiving IONM to range from $1150.47 - $29404.61; variations in IONM cost, percentage of intervenable LVOs, IONM sensitivity, and mechanical thrombectomy cost exerted comparably minimal influence over lifetime costs. DISCUSSION: We find considerable cost savings favoring the use of IONM under certain parameters corresponding to high-risk patients. This study will provide financial perspective to policymakers, clinicians, and patients alike on the appropriate use of IONM during cardiac surgery.

Value of Information Analysis of a Web-Based Self-Management Intervention for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Objective: Technology-based programs can be cost-effective in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, cost-effectiveness estimates always contain some uncertainty, and decisions based upon them carry some risk. We conducted a value of information (VOI) analysis to estimate the value of additional research of a web-based self-management intervention for COPD to reduce the costs associated with uncertainty. Methods: We used a 10,000-iteration cost-effectiveness model from the health care payer perspective to calculate the expected value of perfect information (EVPI) at the patient- and population-level. An opportunity loss was incurred when the web-based intervention did not produce a greater net monetary benefit than usual care in an iteration. We calculated the probability of opportunity loss and magnitude of opportunity costs as a function of baseline health utility. We aggregated opportunity costs over the projected incident population of inpatient COPD patients over 10 years and estimated it as a function of the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold. Costs are in 2022 U.S. Dollars. Results: Opportunity losses were found in 22.7% of the iterations. The EVPIpatient was $78 per patient (95% confidence interval: $75-$82). The probability that the intervention was the optimal strategy varied across baseline health utilities. The EVPIpopulation was $506,666,882 over 10 years for a WTP of $50,000. Conclusions: Research estimated to cost up to $500 million would be warranted to reduce uncertainty. Future research could focus on identifying the impact of baseline health utilities to maximize the cost savings of the intervention. Other considerations for future research priorities include implementation efforts for technology-based interventions.

Economic review of point-of-care EEG.

Aims: Point-of-care electroencephalogram (POC-EEG) is an acute care bedside screening tool for the identification of nonconvulsive seizures (NCS) and nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE). The objective of this narrative review is to describe the economic themes related to POC-EEG in the United States (US).Materials and methods: We examined peer-reviewed, published manuscripts on the economic findings of POC-EEG for bedside use in US hospitals, which included those found through targeted searches on PubMed and Google Scholar. Conference abstracts, gray literature offerings, frank advertisements, white papers, and studies conducted outside the US were excluded.Results: Twelve manuscripts were identified and reviewed; results were then grouped into four categories of economic evidence. First, POC-EEG usage was associated with clinical management amendments and antiseizure medication reductions. Second, POC-EEG was correlated with fewer unnecessary transfers to other facilities for monitoring and reduced hospital length of stay (LOS). Third, when identifying NCS or NCSE onsite, POC-EEG was associated with greater reimbursement in Medical Severity-Diagnosis Related Group coding. Fourth, POC-EEG may lower labor costs via decreasing after-hours requests to EEG technologists for conventional EEG (convEEG).Limitations: We conducted a narrative review, not a systematic review. The studies were observational and utilized one rapid circumferential headband system, which limited generalizability of the findings and indicated publication bias. Some sample sizes were small and hospital characteristics may not represent all US hospitals. POC-EEG studies in pediatric populations were also lacking. Ultimately, further research is justified.Conclusions: POC-EEG is a rapid screening tool for NCS and NCSE in critical care and emergency medicine with potential financial benefits through refining clinical management, reducing unnecessary patient transfers and hospital LOS, improving reimbursement, and mitigating burdens on healthcare staff and hospitals. Since POC-EEG has limitations (i.e. no video component and reduced montage), the studies asserted that it did not replace convEEG.

Examining the National Representativeness of the Axon Registry: A Neurology-Specific Patient Registry.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the external validity of the Axon Registry by comparing the 2019 calendar year data with 2 nationally representative, publicly available data sources, specifically the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). The Axon Registry is the American Academy of Neurology's neurology-focused qualified clinical data registry that reports and analyzes electronic health record data from participating US neurology providers. Its key function is to support quality improvement within ambulatory neurology practices while also promoting high-quality evidence-based care in clinical neurology. We compared demographics of patients who had an outpatient or office visit with a neurologist along with prevalence of selected neurologic conditions and neurologic procedures across the 3 data sets. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional, retrospective comparison of 3 data sets: NAMCS (2012-2016), MEPS (2013-2017, 2019), and Axon Registry (2019). We obtained patient demographics (age, birth sex, race, ethnicity), patient neurologic conditions (headache, epilepsy, cerebrovascular disease, multiple sclerosis, parkinsonism, dementia, spinal pain, and polyneuropathy), provider location, and neurologic procedures (neurology visits, MR/CT neuroimaging studies and EEG/EMG neurophysiologic studies). Parameter estimates from the pooled 5-year samples of the 2 public data sets, calculated at the visit level, were compared descriptively with those of the Axon Registry. We calculated Cohen h and performed Wald tests (α = 0.05) to conduct person-level statistical comparisons between MEPS 2019 and Axon Registry 2019 data. RESULTS: The Axon Registry recorded 1.3 M annual neurology visits (NAMCS, 11 M; MEPS, 22 M) and 645 K people with neurologic conditions (MEPS, 10 M). Compared with the pooled national surveys, the Axon Registry has similar patient demographics, neurologic condition prevalence, neuroimaging and neurophysiologic utilization, and provider location. In direct comparison with MEPS 2019, the Axon Registry 2019 had fewer children (2% vs 7%), more elderly persons (21% vs 16%), fewer non-Black and non-White race persons (5% vs 8%), less number of patients with epilepsy (10% vs 13%), more patients with dementia (8% vs 6%), more patients with cerebrovascular disease (11% vs 8%), and a greater predominance of neurology providers in the Midwest (25% vs 20%). The only difference with a non-negligible effect size was the proportion of people younger than 15 years (Cohen h = 0.25). DISCUSSION: The Axon Registry demonstrates high concordance with 2 nationally representative surveys. Recruiting more and diverse neurology providers will further improve the volume, representativeness, and value of the Axon Registry.

Twenty-Year Disparity Trends in United States Stroke Death Rate by Age, Race/Ethnicity, Geography, and Socioeconomic Status.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an alert that, after decades of consistent decline, the stroke death rate levelled off in 2013, particularly in younger individuals and without clear origin. The objective of this analysis was to understand whether social determinants of health have influenced trends in stroke mortality. METHODS: We performed a longitudinal analysis of county-level ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke death rate per 100,000 adults from 1999 to 2018 using a Bayesian spatiotemporally smoothed CDC dataset stratified by age (35-64 years [younger] and 65 years or older [older]) and then by county-level social determinants of health. We reported stroke death rate by county and the percentage change in stroke death rate during 2014-2018 compared with that during 2009-2013. RESULTS: We included data from 3,082 counties for younger individuals and 3,019 counties for older individuals. The stroke death rate began to increase for younger individuals in 2013 (p < 0.001), and the slope of the decrease in stroke death rate tapered for older individuals (p < 0.001). During the 20-year period of our study, counties with a high social deprivation index and ≥10% Black residents consistently had the highest rates of stroke death in both age groups. Comparing stroke death rate during 2014-2018 with that during 2009-2013, larger increases in younger individuals' stroke death rate were seen in counties with ≥90% (vs <90%) non-Hispanic White individuals (3.2% mean death rate change vs 1.7%, p < 0.001), rural (vs urban) populations (2.6% vs 2.0%, p = 0.019), low (vs high) proportion of medical insurance coverage (2.9% vs 1.9%, p = 0.002), and high (vs low) substance abuse and suicide mortality (2.8 vs 1.9%, p = 0.008; 3.3% vs 1.5%, p < 0.001). In contrast to the younger individuals, in older individuals, the associations with increased death rates were with more traditional social determinants of health such as the social deprivation index, urban location, unemployment rate, and proportion of Black race and Hispanic ethnicity residents. DISCUSSION: Improvements in the stroke death rate in the United States are slowing and even reversing in younger individuals and many US counties. County-level increases in stroke death rate were associated with distinct social determinants of health for younger vs older individuals. These findings may inform targeted public health strategies.

Characteristics and Gender Differences of Headache in the Veterans Health Administration: A National Cohort Study, Fiscal Year 2008-2019.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: - To determine gender differences in headache types diagnosed, sociodemographic characteristics, military campaign and exposures, and healthcare utilization among United States (U.S.) Veterans in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). METHODS: - This study employed a retrospective cohort design to examine VHA Electronic Health Record (EHR) data. This cohort includes Veterans who had at least one visit for any headache between fiscal years 2008 and 2019. Headache diagnoses were classified into eight categories using International Classification of Disease, Clinical Modification codes. Demographics, military-related exposures, comorbidities, and type of provider(s) consulted were extracted from the EHR, and compared by gender. Age-adjusted incidence and prevalence rates of medically diagnosed headache disorders were calculated separately for each type of headache. RESULTS: - Of the 1,524,960 Veterans with headache diagnoses included in the cohort, 82.8% were men. Compared with women, men were more often white (70.4% vs 56.7%), older (52.0±16.8 vs 41.9±13.0 years), with higher rates of traumatic brain injury (2.9% vs 1.1%) and post-traumatic stress disorder (23.7% vs 21.7%), and lower rates of military sexual trauma (3.2% vs 33.7%; p<0.001 for all). Age adjusted incidence rate of headache of any type was higher among women. Migraine and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias rates were most stable over time. Men were more likely than women to be diagnosed with headache not-otherwise-specified (77.4% vs 67.7%) and have higher incidence rates of headaches related to trauma (3.4% vs 1.9% [post-traumatic]; 5.5% vs 5.1% [post-whiplash]; p <0.001 for all). Men also had fewer headache types diagnosed (mean ± standard deviation; 1.3 ± 0.6 vs 1.5 ± 0.7), had fewer encounters for headache/year (0.8 ± 1.2 vs 1.2 ± 1.6) and fewer visits to headache specialists (20.8% vs 27.4% p <0.001 for all), compared to women. Emergency Department utilization for headache care was high for both genders and higher for women compared to men (20.3% vs 22.9%; p<0.001). DISCUSSION: - Among Veterans with headache diagnoses, important gender differences exist for men and women Veterans receiving headache care within VHA regarding sociodemographic characteristics, headache diagnoses, military exposure, and headache healthcare utilization. The findings have potential implications for providers and the healthcare system caring for Veterans living with headache.

Frequency, Demographics, Comorbidities, and Health Care Utilization by Veterans With Migraine: A VA Nationwide Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the relative frequency, demographics, comorbidities, and healthcare utilization of veterans who receive migraine care at the Veteran's Health Administration (VHA) and to evaluate differences by gender. METHODS: This study extracted data from VHA administrative sources. Veterans diagnosed with migraine by a healthcare provider between fiscal year 2008-2019 were included. Demographics and military exposures were extracted at cohort entry. Comorbidities were extracted within 18 months of the first migraine diagnosis. Health care utilization and headache comorbidities were extracted across the study period. Differences between men and women were evaluated using chi-square tests and student t-tests. RESULTS: More than half a million (n = 567,121) veterans were diagnosed with migraine during the 12-year study period, accounting for 5.3% of the 10.8 million veterans served in the VHA; in the most recent year of the study period (2019), the annual incidence and one-year period prevalence of medically diagnosed migraine was 2.7% and 13.0% for women, and 0.7% and 2.5% for men. In the total cohort diagnosed with migraine, 27.8% were women and 72.2% men. Among those with diagnosed migraine, a higher proportion of men vs. women also had a TBI diagnosis (3.9% vs. 1.1%; p < 0.001). A higher proportion of women vs. men reported military sexual trauma (35.5% vs. 3.5%; p < 0.001). Participants with diagnosed migraine had an average of 1.44 (SD 1.73) annual encounters for headache. Primary care was the most common headache care setting (88.1%); almost one-fifth of veterans with diagnosed migraine sought care in the ED at least once during the study period. Common comorbidities were overweight/obesity (80.3%), non-headache pain disorders (61.7%), and mental health disorders (48.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Migraine is commonly treated in the VHA setting, but likely under ascertained. Most people treated for migraine in the VHA are men. Pain comorbidities and psychiatric disorders are common. Future research should identify methods to improve diagnosis and treatment and to reduce use of the emergency department.

Cost savings associated with a web-based physical activity intervention for COPD.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cost savings associated with a pedometer-based, web-mediated physical activity intervention in a cohort of US veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). STUDY DESIGN: Economic analysis. METHODS: We constructed a decision tree from the health care system perspective incorporating adjusted relative risk of a pedometer-based, web-mediated intervention for COPD-related acute exacerbations, acute exacerbation-related costs (ie, emergency department visits and hospitalizations), and intervention-related costs. Total COPD-related costs were estimated per patient across 12 months. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis with Monte Carlo simulation was used to estimate uncertainty in the model findings. RESULTS: In the deterministic (base case) model, the model estimated costs to be $4236 per participant who used the pedometer-based, web-mediated intervention compared with $7913 per participant in the control group (estimated $3677 saved in 1 year compared with the control group). The model findings were robust to probabilistic sensitivity analysis, with a difference in mean costs of $4582 (95% probability interval, $4084-$5080; P < .001). Cost savings in the model were driven by the adjusted relative risk of the web-based intervention, probability of a COPD-related acute exacerbation, rate of hospitalization, probability of hospitalization, and cost of hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: A pedometer-based, web-mediated physical activity intervention yielded substantial cost savings. Increased implementation of the intervention could markedly reduce the economic burden of COPD for payers and patients.

Urinary catheter monitoring of intra-abdominal pressure after major abdominal surgery, a cost-benefit analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate costs and benefits associated with measurement of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). METHODS: We built a cost-benefit analysis from the hospital facility perspective and time horizon limited to hospitalization for patients undergoing major abdominal surgery for the intervention of urinary catheter monitoring of IAP. We used real-world data estimating the likelihood of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH), abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS), and acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). Costs included catheter costs (estimated $200), costs of additional intensive care unit (ICU) days from IAH and ACS, and costs of CRRT. We took the preventability of IAH/ACS given early detection from a trial of non-surgical interventions in IAH. We evaluated uncertainty through probabilistic sensitivity analysis and the effect of individual model parameters on the primary outcome of cost savings through one-way sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: In the base case, urinary catheter monitoring of IAP in the perioperative period of major abdominal surgery had 81% fewer cases of IAH of any grade, 64% fewer cases of AKI, and 96% fewer cases of ACS. Patients had 1.5 fewer ICU days attributable to IAH (intervention 1.6 days vs. control of 3.1 days) and a total average cost reduction of $10,468 (intervention $10,809, controls $21,277). In Monte Carlo simulation, 86% of 1,000 replications were cost-saving, for a mean cost savings of $10,349 (95% UCI $8,978, $11,720) attributable to real-time urinary catheter monitoring of intra-abdominal pressure. One-way factor analysis showed the pre-test probability of IAH had the largest effect on cost savings and the intervention was cost-neutral at a prevention rate as low as 2%. CONCLUSIONS: In a cost-benefit model using real-world data, the potential average in-hospital cost savings for urinary catheter monitoring of IAP for early detection and prevention of IAH, ACS, and AKI far exceed the cost of the catheter.

Gender Discrepancies in Neurologist Compensation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown gender disparities in physician pay in various specialties. This retrospective, cross-sectional study evaluated data from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Compensation and Productivity Survey for differences in neurologist compensation by gender. METHODS: Of the 3,268 completed surveys submitted, 2,719 were from neurologists and 1,466 had sufficient data for analysis (551 women, 951 men respondents). We calculated an hourly wage from full-time equivalent (FTE) status and weeks worked per year. We evaluated differences in men and women neurologist compensation with multivariable generalized linear models adjusting for race, ethnicity, geographic region, practice setting, years in practice, call status, leadership role, straight salary, and subspecialty. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics for men and women neurologists were similar with the exception of subspecialty distribution. More men were practicing in higher-wage subspecialties compared to women (p < 0.05). Mean FTE annual salary for all neurologists was $280,315, and mean standardized hourly compensation was $131. Estimated annual salary for women was 10.7% less (p ≤ 0.001, 95% confidence interval -4% to -16%) after controlling for race, region, years of practice, practice setting, call status, leadership role, and subspecialty-wage category. FTE annual salary for women neurologists in high-compensation specialties ($281,838) was lower than the mean annual salary for men neurologists in both high-compensation ($365,751) and low-compensation subspecialties ($282,813). When broken down by years of practice, the highest earning women neurologists' mean hourly wage (11-20 years of practice, $128/h) was less than that of all men neurologists except those with 0 to 5 years of practice ($125/h). DISCUSSION: This study, using convenience sample data, adds to the existing body of evidence demonstrating that, despite adjustment for multiple confounding variables, ongoing disparities exist in physician compensation. Despite efforts by professional societies such as the AAN, ongoing systemic issues and barriers exist. Further research into underlying causes and mitigation strategies is recommended; use of probability sampling methods in future research will be important to decrease potential bias and to increase generalizability.

Acute Ischemic Stroke Interventions in the United States and Racial, Socioeconomic, and Geographic Disparities.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In patients with ischemic stroke (IS), IV alteplase (tissue plasminogen activator [tPA]) and endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) reduce long-term disability, but their utilization has not been fully optimized. Prior research has also demonstrated disparities in the use of tPA and EVT specific to sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location. We sought to determine the utilization of tPA and EVT in the United States from 2016-2018 and if disparities in utilization persist. METHODS: This is a retrospective, longitudinal analysis of the 2016-2018 National Inpatient Sample. We included adult patients who had a primary discharge diagnosis of IS. The primary study outcomes were the proportions who received tPA or EVT. We fit a multivariate logistic regression model to our outcomes in the full cohort and also in the subset of patients who had an available baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. RESULTS: The full cohort after weighting included 1,439,295 patients with IS. The proportion who received tPA increased from 8.8% in 2016 to 10.2% in 2018 (p < 0.001) and who had EVT from 2.8% in 2016 to 4.9% in 2018 (p < 0.001). Comparing Black to White patients, the odds ratio (OR) of receiving tPA was 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79-0.86) and for having EVT was 0.75 (95% CI 0.70-0.81). Comparing patients with a median income in their zip code of ≤$37,999 to >$64,000, the OR of receiving tPA was 0.81 (95% CI 0.78-0.85) and for having EVT was 0.84 (95% CI 0.77-0.91). Comparing patients living in a rural area to a large metro area, the OR of receiving tPA was 0.48 (95% CI 0.44-0.52) and for having EVT was 0.92 (95% CI 0.81-1.05). These associations were largely maintained after adjustment for NIHSS, although the effect size changed for many of them. Contrary to prior reports with older datasets, sex was not consistently associated with tPA or EVT. DISCUSSION: Utilization of tPA and EVT for IS in the United States increased from 2016 to 2018. There are racial, socioeconomic, and geographic disparities in the accessibility of tPA and EVT for patients with IS, with important public health implications that require further study.