Prehospital neurological deterioration in stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with stroke can experience neurological deterioration in the prehospital setting. We evaluated patients with stroke to determine factors associated with prehospital neurological deterioration (PND). METHODS: Among the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region (population ~1.3 million), we screened all 15 local hospitals' admissions from 2010 for acute stroke and included patients aged ≥20. The GCS was compared between emergency medical services (EMS) arrival and hospital arrival, with decrease ≥2 points considered PND. Data obtained retrospectively included demographics, medical history and medication use, stroke subtype (eg, ischaemic stroke (IS), intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH)) and IS subtype (eg, small vessel, large vessel, cardioembolic), seizure at onset, time intervals between symptom onset, EMS arrival and hospital arrival, EMS level of training, and blood pressure and serum glucose on EMS arrival. RESULTS: Of 2708 total patients who had a stroke, 1092 patients (median (IQR) age 74 (61-83) years; 56% women; 21% black) were analysed. PND occurred in 129 cases (12%), including 9% of IS, 24% of ICH and 16% of SAH. In multivariable analysis, black race, atrial fibrillation, haemorrhagic subtype and ALS level of transport were associated with PND. CONCLUSION: Haemorrhage and atrial fibrillation is associated with PND in stroke, and further investigation is needed to establish whether PND can be predicted. Further studies are also needed to assess whether preferential transport of patients with deterioration to hospitals equipped with higher levels of care is beneficial, identify why race is associated with deterioration and to test therapies targeting PND

Building Cohesion in Distributed Telemedicine Teams Findings from the Department of Veterans Affairs National Telestroke Program

Background: As telemedicine adoption increases, so does the importance of building cohesion among physicians in telemedicine teams. For example, in acute telestroke services, stroke specialists provide rapid virtual stroke assessment and treatment to patients at hospitals without stroke specialty care. In the National Telestroke Program (NTSP) of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a virtual (distributed) hub of stroke specialists throughout the country provides 24/7 consultations nationwide. We examined how these specialists adapted to distributed teamwork, and we identied cohesion-related factors inprogram development and support. Methods: We conducted a case study of the stroke specialists employed by the NTSP. Semi-structured, condential interviews with stroke specialists in the virtual hub were recorded and transcribed. We explored the extent to which these specialists had developed a sense of shared identity and teamcohesion, and we identied factors in this development. Using a qualitative approach with constant comparison methods, two researchers coded each interview transcript independently using a shared codebook. We used matrix displays to identify themes, with special attention to team cohesion, communication, trust, and satisfaction. Results: Of 13 specialists with at least 8 months of NTSP practice, 12 completed interviews; 7 had previously practiced in telestroke programs in other healthcare systems. Interviewees reported high levels of trust and team cohesion, sometimes even more with their virtual colleagues than with local colleagues. Factors facilitating perceived team cohesion included a weekly case conference call, a sense of transparency in discussing challenges, engagement in NTSP development tasks, and support from the NTSP leadership. Although lack of in-person contact was associated with lower cohesion, annual in-person NTSP meetings helped mitigate this issue. Despite technical challenges in establishing a new telehealth system within existing national infrastructure, providers reported high levels of satisfaction with the NTSP.Conclusion: A virtual telestroke hub can provide a sense of team cohesion among stroke specialists at a level comparable with a standard co-located practice. Engaging in transparent discussion of challenging cases, reviewing new clinical evidence, and contributing to program improvements may promotecohesion in distributed telemedicine teamsThis work was funded by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Rural Health (016ORH), VHA Office of Specialty Care, VA Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Precision Monitoring Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUE 15-280). Funding sources had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or manuscript writing. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Gender and Time to Arrival among Ischemic Stroke Patients in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study

Background Some studies of stroke patients report longer pre-hospital delays in women, but others conflict; studies vary in their inclusion of factors including age and stroke severity. We aimed to investigate the relationship between gender and time to emergency department (ED) arrival and the influence of age and stroke severity on this relationship. Methods Ischemic stroke patients ≥ 20 years old who presented to 15 hospitals within a 5-county region of Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky during 2010 were included. Time from symptom onset to ED arrival and covariates were abstracted by study nurses and reviewed by study physicians. Data were analyzed using logistic regression with time to arrival dichotomized at ≤ 3 hours, in the overall sample and then stratified by NIHSS and age. Results 1991 strokes (55% women) were included. Time to arrival was slightly longer in women (geometric mean 337 minutes [95%CI 307–369] vs. 297 [95%CI 268–329], p =0.05), and 24% of women vs. 27% of men arrived within 3 hours (p=0.15). After adjusting for age, race, NIHSS, living situation, and other covariates, gender was not associated with delayed time to arrival (OR=1.00, 95%CI 0.78–1.28). This did not change across age or NIHSS categories. Conclusions After adjusting for factors including age, NIHSS, and living alone, women and men with ischemic stroke had similar times to arrival. Arrival time is not likely a major contributor to differences in outcome between men and women

Sex differences in cardiovascular risk profiles of ischemic stroke patients with diabetes in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study

Background The aim of the present study was to compare sex-specific associations between cardiovascular risk factors and diabetes mellitus (DM) among patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study (GCNKSS). Methods The GCNKSS ascertained AIS cases in 2005 and 2010 among adult (age ≥ 20 years) residents of a biracial population of 1.3 million. Past and current stroke risk factors were compared between those with and without DM using Chi-squared tests and multiple logistic regression analysis to examine sex-specific profiles. Results There were 3515 patients with incident AIS; 1919 (55%) were female, 697 (20%) were Black, and 1146 (33%) had DM. Among both women and men with DM, significantly more were obese and had hypertension, high cholesterol, and coronary artery disease (CAD) compared with those without DM. For women with AIS, multivariable sex-specific adjusted analyses revealed that older age was associated with decreased odds of having DM (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80–0.98). For women with CAD, the odds of DM were increased (aOR 1.76, 95% CI 1.33–2.32). Age and CAD were not significant factors in differentiating the profiles of men with and without DM. Conclusions Women with DM had strokes at a younger age, whereas no such age difference existed in men. Compared with men, women with DM were also more likely to have CAD than those without DM, suggesting a sex difference in the association between DM and vascular disease. These findings may suggest a need for more aggressive risk factor management in diabetic women

Sex-specific stroke incidence over time in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study

OBJECTIVE: Recent data suggest stroke incidence is decreasing over time, but it is unknown whether incidence is decreasing in women and men to the same extent. METHODS: Within our population of 1.3 million, all incident strokes among residents ≥20 years old were ascertained at all hospitals during July 1993-June 1994 and calendar years 1999, 2005, and 2010. A sampling scheme was used to ascertain out-of-hospital cases. Sex-specific incidence rates per 100,000 among black and white participants, age- and race-adjusted, were standardized to the 2000 US Census population. Trends over time by sex were compared; a Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Over the 4 study periods, there were 7,710 incident strokes; 57.2% (n = 4,412) were women. Women were older than men (mean ± SE 72.4 ± 0.34 vs 68.2 ± 0.32, p < 0.001). Incidence of all strokes decreased over time in men (263 [confidence interval 246-281] to 192 [179-205], p < 0.001) but not in women (217 [205-230] to 198 [187-210], p = 0.15). Similar sex differences were seen for ischemic stroke (men, 238 [223-257] to 165 [153-177], p < 0.01; women, 193 [181-205] to 173 [162-184], p = 0.09). Incidence of all strokes and of ischemic strokes was similar between women and men in 2010. Incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage were stable over time in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Decreases in stroke incidence over time are driven by a decrease in ischemic stroke in men. Contrary to previous study periods, stroke incidence rates were similar by sex in 2010. Future research is needed to understand why the decrease in ischemic stroke incidence is more pronounced in men

Temporal Trends of Sex Differences in Transient Ischemic Attack Incidence Within a Population

Objective: Previously we reported that ischemic stroke incidence is declining over time for men but not women. We sought to describe temporal trends of sex differences in incidence of transient ischemic attack (TIA) within the same large, biracial population. Methods: Among the population of 1.3 million in the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Stroke Study (GCNKSS) region, TIAs among area residents (≥20 years old) were identified at all local hospitals. Out of hospital cases were ascertained using a sampling scheme. First-ever cases and first within each study period for a patient were included in incidence rates. All cases were physician-adjudicated. Incidence rates (during 7/93-6/94 and calendar years 1999, 2005, and 2010) were calculated using the age-, race-, and sex-specific number of TIAs divided by the GCNKSS population in that group; rates were standardized to the 2010 U.S. population. T-tests with Bonferroni correction were used to compare rates over time. Results: There were a total of 4746 TIA events; 53% were female, and 12% were black. In males, incidence decreased from 153 (95%CI 139-167) per 100,000 in 1993/4 to 117 (95%CI 107-128) in 2010 (p0.05). Conclusions: Within the GCNKSS population, TIA incidence decreased significantly over time in males but not females, data which parallels trends in ischemic stroke in the GCNKSS over the same time period. Future research is needed to determine if these sex differences in incidence over time continue past 2010

Temporal Trends in Stroke Incidence over Time by Sex and Age in the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Stroke Study

Background and Purpose- Sex differences in stroke incidence over time were previously reported from the GCNKSS (Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study). We aimed to determine whether these differences continued through 2015 and whether they were driven by particular age groups. Methods- Within the GCNKSS population of 1.3 million, incident (first ever) strokes among residents ≥20 years of age were ascertained at all local hospitals during 5 periods: July 1993 to June 1994 and calendar years 1999, 2005, 2010, and 2015. Out-of-hospital cases were sampled. Sex-specific incidence rates per 100 000 were adjusted for age and race and standardized to the 2010 US Census. Trends over time by sex were compared (overall and age stratified). Sex-specific case fatality rates were also reported. Bonferroni corrections were applied for multiple comparisons. Results- Over the 5 study periods, there were 9733 incident strokes (56.3% women). For women, there were 229 (95% CI, 215-242) per 100 000 incident strokes in 1993/1994 and 174 (95% CI, 163-185) in 2015 (P<0.05), compared with 282 (95% CI, 263-301) in 1993/1994 to 211 (95% CI, 198-225) in 2015 (P<0.05) in men. Incidence rates decreased between the first and last study periods in both sexes for IS but not for intracerebral hemorrhage or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Significant decreases in stroke incidence occurred between the first and last study periods for both sexes in the 65- to 84-year age group and men only in the ≥85-year age group; stroke incidence increased for men only in the 20- to 44-year age group. Conclusions- Overall stroke incidence decreased from the early 1990s to 2015 for both sexes. Future studies should continue close surveillance of sex differences in the 20- to 44-year and ≥85-year age groups, and future stroke prevention strategies should target strokes in the young- and middle-age groups, as well as intracerebral hemorrhage

A molecular/genetic approach to cerebral small-vessel disease: Beyond aging and hypertension

Lacunar infarction, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), deep cerebral microbleeds (dCMB), and deep intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are increasingly recognized as manifestations of a common underlying vasculopathy, encompassed by the term "cerebral small-vessel disease" (CSVD). Epidemiologic studies have found robust associations of the individual aspects of CSVD with aging and hypertension; however, heritability estimates and the disproportionate burden of CSVD in underrepresented minorities suggest that genetic factors contribute substantially to CSVD risk. Here we present the rationale for studying these phenotypes as part of a spectrum of CSVD, review aspects of genetic study design, summarize current knowledge of genetic contribution to CSVD, and discuss the next steps required to translate these genetic discoveries into therapies for this devastating disease. Genetic studies were identified using PubMed. Regions achieving genome-wide significance in association studies, meta-analyses of candidate gene studies, and studies of genes associated with Mendelian conditions exhibiting CSVD phenotypes have been summarized