Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in the Use and Outcomes of Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Amol Mehta, Johanna T Fifi, Hazem Shoirah, Tomoyoshi Shigematsu, Thomas J. Oxley, Christopher P. Kellner, Reade De Leacy, J Mocco, Shahram Majidi
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Racial and socioeconomic disparities in the incidence, treatment, and outcomes of acute ischemic stroke exist and have been described. We aimed to characterize disparities in the use of endovascular thrombectomy in a nationally representative analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Discharge data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between 2006 and 2016 were queried using validated International Classification of Disease codes. Patients admitted to US hospitals with acute ischemic stroke were included and stratified on the basis of race, income, and primary payer. Trends in endovascular thrombectomy use, good outcome (discharge to home/acute rehabilitation), and poor outcome (discharge to skilled nursing facility, hospice, in-hospital mortality) were studied using univariate and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a widespread increase in endovascular thrombectomy use, black and low-income patients may be less likely to receive endovascular thrombectomy. Future effort should attempt to better understand the causes of these disparities and develop strategies to ensure equitable access to potentially life-saving treatment.