Abstract Body: Background: Stroke remains a leading cause of mortality and morbidity, with treatment and outcomes differing across ethnic groups. Tele-stroke networks have expanded access to stroke care, particularly in underserved areas, but the impact of ethnicity on these outcomes is still being explored. This study aims to compare stroke treatment outcomes among White/Caucasian, African-American, and Other ethnic groups within a tele-stroke network.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 4,256 stroke patients treated within a tele-stroke network spanning 38 hospitals. Patients were categorized into three ethnic groups: White/Caucasian (n = 2,925), African-American (n = 1,122), and other (n = 209). Data on baseline characteristics, treatment interventions, and discharge outcomes were analyzed using chi-square tests for categorical variables and Kruskal-Wallis tests for continuous variables.
Results: The median age was highest in White/Caucasian patients (70 years, IQR 57-81) and lowest in the other group (61 years, IQR 49-72) (p < 0.001). True strokes occurred in 82.3% of White/Caucasian patients, 79.3% of African-American patients, and 89.9% of the other group (p = 0.001). tPA was administered to 19.4% of White/Caucasian patients, 16.7% of African-American patients, and 15.2% of the other group (p = 0.12). Mechanical thrombectomy rates were similar across all groups (p = 0.07). Discharge to home was most common in the other group (58.4%), followed by African-American (50.3%) and White/Caucasian patients (44.9%) (p = 0.01).
Conclusion: This study identified important ethnic differences in stroke treatment and outcomes within a tele-stroke network. While there were no significant disparities in the administration of key treatments such as tPA and mechanical thrombectomy, differences in age, gender distribution, stroke severity, and true stroke rates highlight the need for tailored approaches in stroke management to address the unique needs of different racial/ethnic groups.