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Background and Purpose: Mounting evidence points to a decline in stroke incidence. However, little is known about recent patterns of stroke hospitalization within the buckle of the stroke belt. This study aims to investigate the age- and race-specific secular trends in stroke hospitalization rates, inpatient stroke mortality rates, and related hospitalization charges during the past decade in South Carolina., Methods: Patients from 2001 to 2010 were identified from the State Inpatient Hospital Discharge Database with a primary discharge diagnosis of stroke (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes: 430-434, 436, 437.1). Age- and race-stroke-specific hospitalization rates, hospital charges, charges associated with racial disparity, and 30-day stroke mortality rates were compared between blacks and whites., Results: Of the 84,179 stroke hospitalizations, 31,137 (37.0%) were from patients aged<65 years and 29,846 (35.5%) were blacks. Stroke hospitalization rates decreased in the older population (aged≥65 years) for both blacks and whites (P<0.001) but increased among the younger group (aged<65 years; P=0.004); however, this increase was mainly driven by a 17.3% rise among blacks (P=0.001), with no difference seen among whites (P=0.84). Of hospital charges totaling $2.77 billion, $453.2 million (16.4%) are associated with racial disparity (79.6% from patients aged<65 years). Thirty-day stroke mortality rates decreased in all age-race-stroke-specific groups (P<0.001)., Conclusions: The stroke hospitalization rate increased in the young blacks only, which results in a severe and persistent racial disparity. It highlights the urgent need for a racial disparity reduction in the younger population to alleviate the healthcare burden., (© 2014 American Heart Association, Inc.)

Background and Purpose: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposes to use 30-day hospital readmissions after ischemic stroke as part of the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program for payment determination beginning in 2016. The proportion of poststroke readmissions that is potentially preventable is unknown., Methods: Thirty-day readmissions for all Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged≥65 years discharged alive with a primary diagnosis of ischemic stroke (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification 433, 434, 436) between December 2005 and November 2006 were analyzed. Preventable readmissions were identified based on 14 Prevention Quality Indicators developed for use with administrative data by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. National, hospital-level, and regional preventable readmission rates were estimated. Random-effects logistic regression was also used to determine patient-level factors associated with preventable readmissions., Results: Among 307 887 ischemic stroke discharges, 44 379 (14.4%) were readmitted within 30 days; 5322 (1.7% of all discharges) were the result of a preventable cause (eg, pneumonia), and 39 057 (12.7%) were for other reasons (eg, cancer). In multivariate analysis, older age and cardiovascular-related comorbid conditions were strong predictors of preventable readmissions. Preventable readmission rates were highest in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and US territories and lowest in the Mountain and Pacific regions., Conclusions: On the basis of Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Prevention Quality Indicators, we found that a small proportion of readmissions after ischemic stroke were classified as preventable. Although other causes of readmissions not reflected in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality measures could also be avoidable, hospital-level programs intended to reduce all-cause readmissions and costs should target high-risk patients.

Background and Purpose: Socioeconomic status is inversely associated with mortality after stroke; however, the reasons behind this finding are not well-understood. We undertook a study to determine whether posthospitalization care and medication adherence vary with neighborhood income., Methods: We conducted a cohort study of 11 050 patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack admitted to any of 11 specialized stroke centers in Ontario, Canada, between July 1, 2003 and March 31, 2008. Socioeconomic status measured as neighborhood income quintiles was imputed from the 2006 Canadian Census. We used linkages to administrative databases to evaluate processes of stroke care and medication adherence within 1 year of discharge. We used multivariable analyses to assess whether differences in stroke care and medication adherence existed across income groups after adjustment for age, sex, stroke severity, and comorbid conditions., Results: Higher income was associated with higher rates of stroke unit admission, neurology consultations, referrals to secondary prevention clinics, and physician visits after hospital discharge; however, the absolute differences in rates were small. There was no difference across income quintiles in the use of postdischarge homecare services or in adherence to antihypertensive, antithrombotic, or lipid-lowering medications., Conclusions: Higher income is associated with improvements in some aspects of stroke care delivery. However, the magnitude of the care gap across income quintiles is small and is unlikely to account for the previously observed association between socioeconomic status and survival after stroke.

Background and Purpose: It is important to know the costs of hospitalization for patients undergoing endovascular embolectomy so that comparisons can be made with payments to hospitals., Methods: Using the National Inpatient Sample, we evaluated the costs of hospitalization for patients treated with endovascular embolectomy in the United States from 2006 to 2008. The primary end point examined in this study was total hospital costs, and these were correlated with clinical outcome., Results: A total of 3864 patients received endovascular embolectomy. A total of 1649 patients were <65 years old and 2205 patients were ≥65 years old. Median hospital costs in 2008 dollars were $36,999 (interquartile range, $26,662-$56,405) for patients with good outcome, $50,628 (interquartile range, $33,135-$76,063) for patients with severe disability, and $35,109 (interquartile range, $25,053-$62,621) for patients with mortality., Conclusions: Hospitalization costs for patients treated with endovascular embolectomy are rather high, probably due to the serious nature of their illness. Medicare payments have not been adequate reimbursement for these hospitalizations.

Background and Purpose: Unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) are being identified more frequently and endovascular coil embolization has become an increasingly popular treatment modality. Our study evaluates patient outcomes with changing patterns of treatment of UIA., Methods: We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal cohort study of 3132 hospital discharges for UIA identified from the New York Statewide Database (SPARCS) in 2005 to 2007 and 2200 discharges from 1995 to 2000. The rates of endovascular coiling and surgical clipping were examined along with hospital variables and discharge outcome. Anatomic specifics of UIA were unavailable for analysis., Results: The case rate for treatment of UIA doubled from 1.59 (1995 to 2000) to 3.45 per 100,000 (2005 to 2007, P<0.0001) and increased in the case treatment rate for coiling of UIA (0.36 versus 1.98 per 100,000, P<0.0001). Compared with the old epoch, there were more UIAs clipped at high-volume centers (55.8% versus 78.8%, P<0.0001) but fewer coiled at high-volume centers (94.8% versus 84.5%, P<0.0001) in the new epoch. Coiling and increasing hospital UIA treatment volume were associated with good discharge outcome. However, there was no significant improvement in overall good outcome when comparing 1995 to 2000 versus 2005 to 2007 (79% versus 81%, P=0.168) and a worsening of good outcomes for clipping (76.3% versus 71.7%, P=0.0132)., Conclusions: Despite coiling being associated with an increased incidence of good outcome relative to clipping of UIA, the increase in coiling has failed to improve overall patient outcome. The shift in coiling venue from high-volume centers to low-volume centers and decreasing microsurgical volume accompanied by a worsening in microsurgical results contribute to this. This argues for greater centralization of care.

Background and Purpose: A stroke "weekend effect" on mortality has been demonstrated in other countries with a possible slight effect in the United States. We studied patients with stroke in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database for a weekend effect on thrombolytic use, in-hospital mortality, discharge disposition, hospital charges, and length of stay., Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2002 to 2007 was searched for all emergency room admissions for International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision codes corresponding to ischemic stroke. Generalized estimated equations for generalized linear models were performed, adjusting for gender, age, race, season, median income level, payer, comorbidity score, hospital region, hospital location, teaching status, bed size, and hospital annual stroke case volume to compare weekend versus weekday stroke admission incidence of thrombolytic use, in-hospital mortality, discharge disposition, hospital charges, and length of stay. The same analysis was performed using the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision codes for ischemic stroke AND transient cerebral ischemia to check internal validity for coding irregularities that may occur in differentiating stroke from transient ischemic attack., Results: There were 599 087 emergency room admissions for ischemic stroke: 159 906 weekend admissions and 439 181 weekday admissions. Generalized estimated equation for generalized linear model analysis was performed and demonstrated weekend compared with weekday patients with stroke were slightly more likely to receive thrombolytics (OR=1.114; 95% CI=1.039 to 1.194; P=0.003); incur slightly higher total hospital charges (effect ratio=1.011; 95% CI=1.006 to 1.017; P<0.001); and have slightly longer lengths of stay (effect ratio=1.021; 95% CI=1.015 to 1.027; P<0.001). There was no difference in in-hospital mortality or discharge disposition., Conclusions: There is a slight stroke weekend effect on thrombolytic use, total hospital charges, and length of stay, but no difference in in-hospital mortality or discharge disposition.

Background and Purpose: Limited information is available on the effect of age on stroke management and care delivery. Our aim was to determine whether access to stroke care, delivery of health services, and clinical outcomes after stroke are affected by age., Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of patients with acute ischemic stroke in the province of Ontario, Canada, admitted to stroke centers participating in the Registry of the Canadian Stroke Network between July 1, 2003 and March 31, 2005. Primary outcomes were the following selected indicators of quality stroke care: (1) use of thrombolysis; (2) dysphagia screening; (3) admission to a stroke unit; (4) carotid imaging; (5) antithrombotic therapy; and (6) warfarin for atrial fibrillation at discharge. Secondary outcomes were risk-adjusted stroke fatality, discharge disposition, pneumonia, and length of hospital stay., Results: Among 3631 patients with ischemic stroke, 1219 (33.6%) were older than 80 years. There were no significant differences in stroke care delivery by age group. Stroke fatality increased with age, with a 30-day risk adjusted fatality of 7.1%, 6.5%, 8.8%, and 14.8% for those aged 59 or younger, 60 to 69, 70 to 79, and 80 years or older, respectively. Those aged older than 80 years had a longer length of hospitalization, increased risk of pneumonia, and higher disability at discharge compared to those younger than 80. This group was also less likely to be discharged home., Conclusions: In the context of a province-wide coordinated stroke care system, stroke care delivery was similar across all age groups with the exception of slightly lower rates of investigations in the very elderly. Increasing age was associated with stroke severity and stroke case-fatality.

Background and Purpose: Racial disparities among US stroke patients have been well documented. However, the extent to which disparities in outcomes vary by age is unclear. This study's goals were to examine the degree of racial disparities in South Carolina between African Americans (AAs) and Caucasian Americans (CAs) in stroke admission rates, hospital charges, and outcomes and to determine whether racial differences varied by age., Methods: From the state hospital discharge database, admissions with a primary diagnosis of stroke discharged from 2002 to 2006 were identified. Age group-specific stroke admission rates, hospital charges, length of stay, intensive care unit utilization, medical complications, and discharge disposition (in-hospital death, discharged home, discharge to rehabilitation facility) were compared between AAs and CAs by multiple-linear or logistic-regression analysis., Results: There were 58 272 stroke admissions during the 5-year period. Stroke admission rates were persistently higher for AAs in all age groups except those > or =85 years old. Hospital charges totaled $1.51 billion; 24.0% ($362.5 million) of this total was attributable to racial disparities, 70.8% ($256.5 million) of which stemmed from the 36.6% of patients <65 years old. Most of the acute outcomes were poorer for AAs compared with CAs across age groups., Conclusions: Racial disparities in stroke admissions are more pronounced in younger age groups and result in significant economic consequences. Although AA stroke patients experienced generally worse acute outcomes than did CAs, these differences appear to be relatively consistent across age groups.

Background and Purpose: Low socioeconomic position (SEP) is associated with high overall stroke mortality, but its contribution to stroke prognosis is unclear. We evaluated socioeconomic disparities in stroke incidence and poststroke outcomes., Methods: We collected hospital discharge and mortality data for all 35- to 84-year-old Rome residents who had a first acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke in 2001 to 2004. We used a small-area SEP index. We calculated age-adjusted incidence rates and rate ratios by SEP for fatal and nonfatal stroke subtypes using Poisson regression. Logistic regression was used to study outcomes by SEP (30-day mortality, and among 1-month survivors: 1-year mortality, hospital readmissions for a successive stroke, and cardiovascular diseases)., Results: A total of 10 033 incident strokes (75% ischemic) were observed. Incidence rates (per 100 000) for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke were: 104 and 34 in men and 81 and 28 in women, respectively. There were socioeconomic disparities in stroke incidence in both genders (rate ratios between extreme SEP categories in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke: 1.76; 95% CI,1.59 to 1.95; 1.50; 95% CI, 1.26 to 1.80 in men; 1.72; 95% CI, 1.55 to 1.91; 1.37; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.63 in women). No association was found for SEP and mortality after stroke. Men with low SEP with an ischemic event were more likely to be hospitalized for a new stroke than men with high SEP. Women with low SEP with hemorrhagic stroke were more likely to be hospitalized for cardiovascular disease compared with women with high SEP., Conclusions: Stroke incidence strongly differs between socioeconomic groups reflecting a heterogeneous distribution of lifestyle and clinical risk factors. Strategies for primary prevention should target less affluent people.

Background and Purpose: Early supported discharge (ESD) for stroke has been shown to yield outcomes similar to or better than those of conventional care, but there is less information on the impact on costs and on the caregiver. The purpose of this study is to estimate the costs associated with an ESD program compared with those of usual care., Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial of stroke patients who required rehabilitation services and who had a caregiver at home., Results: Acute-care costs incurred before randomization when patients were medically ready for discharge averaged $3251 per person. The costs for the balance of the acute-care stay, from randomization to discharge, were $1383 for the home group and $2220 for the usual care group. The average cost of providing the 4-week home intervention service was $943 per person. The total cost generated by persons assigned to the home group averaged $7784 per person, significantly lower than the $11 065 per person for those assigned to usual care. A large proportion of the cost differential between the 2 groups arose from readmissions, for which the usual care group generated costs more than quadruple those of the home intervention group., Conclusions: Providing care at home was no more (or less) expensive for those with greater functional limitation than for those with less. Caregivers in the ESD group scored consistently lower on the Burden Index than caregivers with usual care, even caregivers of persons with major functional limitations. For persons recovering from stroke and their families, ESD provides a cost-effective alternative to usual care.

Background and Purpose: In an inner-London teaching hospital, a randomized trial of "conventional" care versus early discharge to community-based therapy found no significant differences in clinical outcomes between patient groups. This report examines the economic consequences of the alternative strategies., Methods: One hundred sixty-seven patients received the early discharge package, and 164 received conventional care. Patient utilization of health and social services was recorded over a 12-month period, and cost was determined using data from provider departments and other published sources., Results: Inpatient stay after randomization was 12 days (intervention group) versus 18 days (controls) (P=0.0001). Average units of therapy per patient were as follows: physiotherapy, 22.4 (early discharge) versus 15.0 (conventional) (P=0.0006); occupational therapy, 29.0 versus 23.8 (P=0.002); speech therapy, 13. 7 versus 5.8 (P=0.0001). The early discharge group had more annual hospital physician contacts (P=0.015) and general practitioner clinic visits (P=0.019) but fewer incidences of day hospital attendance (P=0.04). Other differences in utilization were nonsignificant. Average annual costs per patient were pound sterling 6800 (early discharge) and pound sterling 7432 (conventional). The early discharge group had lower inpatient costs per patient (pound sterling 4862 [71% of total cost] versus pound sterling 6343 [85%] for controls) but higher non-inpatient costs (pound sterling 1938 [29%] versus pound sterling 1089 [15%]). Further analysis demonstrated that early discharge is unlikely to lead to financial savings; its main benefit is to release capacity for an expansion in stroke caseload., Conclusions: Overall results of this trial indicate that early discharge to community rehabilitation for stroke is cost-effective. It may provide a means of addressing the predicted increase in need for stroke care within existing hospital capacity.

Background and Purpose: Reducing the amount of nonoptimal time stroke patients spend in the hospital should be a priority because prolonged hospitalization is not only costly but may be detrimental for persons with stroke through deconditioning, social isolation, and the fostering of dependent relationships. The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of time spent by stroke patients in acute-care hospitals that was not justified for medical reasons and to identify mechanisms contributing to nonmedical bed-days., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed with 2232 persons admitted for acute stroke to one of 13 hospitals in Montreal, Canada, during 1991. Information was collected on the patient, the stroke, functional status, course in hospital, services, and discharge. Nonmedical bed-days were calculated as the difference between the time to meet specified criteria and time of discharge. Associations with nonmedical bed-days were estimated with adjustment for patient mix., Results: Acute-care stay averaged 27 days, yielding 60,279 bed-days. Almost 50% of the cohort remained in the hospital after meeting criteria for medical discharge, resulting in 43% of total bed-days not accounted for medically. Fifty percent of persons with delayed discharge did not go home but were discharged to another acute-care hospital or to rehabilitation or long-term care, accounting for 66% of the nonmedical bed-days. Hospital and discharge destination remained strongly associated with nonmedical days, even after adjustment for patient mix., Conclusions: The single greatest contributor to excessive nonmedical stay appeared to be the need in Quebec for increased access to alternate levels of care, including skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers.