Highlights
- •Rural residence was associated with lower use of brain/vascular imaging after stroke.
- •Rural residents were less likely than urban ones to receive stroke unit care.
- •Rural residents were less likely than urban ones to receive post-stroke rehabilitation.
- •There was a trend toward higher 30-day stroke mortality for rural vs urban residents.
Abstract
Background
Little is known about stroke care and outcomes in those residing in rural compared
to urban areas.
Methods
We conducted a cohort study on a population-based sample of patients with stroke or
transient ischemic attack seen at 153 acute care hospitals in the province of Ontario,
Canada, between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2011. Based on their primary residence,
patients were categorized as residing in a rural (population < 10,000), medium urban (population 10,000–99,999) or large urban (population ≥ 100,000) area. In the study sample of 15,713, we compared processes of stroke care
(use of thrombolysis, stroke unit care, investigations, consultations and treatments)
and outcomes (30-day mortality, disability at discharge) in those from rural and urban
areas, with multivariable models constructed to evaluate the association between rural
residence and outcomes after adjustment for potential confounders.
Results
Patients from rural areas were less likely than those from urban areas to receive
stroke unit care, brain imaging within 24 h, carotid imaging, and consultations from neurologists, physiotherapists, occupational
therapists and speech language pathologists, and were less likely to be transferred
to inpatient rehabilitation facilities. Use of antithrombotic agents and lipid lowering
therapy was similar in rural and urban residents, as was disability at discharge.
There was a trend toward higher 30-day mortality in rural compared to urban residents
(adjusted hazard ratio 1.14; 95% confidence interval 0.99–1.32).
Conclusion
Rural residence is associated with lower use of key stroke care interventions after
stroke. Future work should focus on developing interventions to address gaps in stroke
care in rural areas.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 09, 2016
Accepted:
February 8,
2016
Received in revised form:
February 4,
2016
Received:
October 28,
2015
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
