Anti-Epileptic Medication Exposure Influences Functional Status in New Zealand Stroke Patients: A Retrospective Population-Level Study

Few papers discuss how the economic burden of patients with stroke receiving rehabilitation courses is related to post-acute care (PAC) programs. This is the first study to explore the economic burden of stroke patients receiving PAC rehabilitation and to evaluate the impact of multidisciplinary PAC programs on cost and functional status simultaneously. A total of 910 patients with stroke between March 2014 and October 2018 were separated into a PAC group (at two medical centers) and a non-PAC group (at three regional hospitals and one district hospital) by using propensity score matching (1:1). A cost–illness approach was employed to identify the cost categories for analysis in this study according to various perspectives. Total direct medical cost in the per-diem-based PAC cohort was statistically lower than that in the fee-for-service-based non-PAC cohort (p < 0.001) and annual per-patient economic burden of stroke patients receiving PAC rehabilitation is approximately US $354.3 million (in 2019, NT $30.5 = US $1). Additionally, the PAC cohort had statistical improvement in functional status vis-à-vis the non-PAC cohort and total score of each functional status before rehabilitation and was also statistically significant with its total score after one-year rehabilitation training (p < 0.001). Early stroke rehabilitation is important for restoring health, confidence, and safe-care abilities in these patients. Compared to the current stroke rehabilitation system, PAC rehabilitation shortened the waiting time for transfer to the rehabilitation ward and it was indicated as an efficient policy for treatment of stroke in saving medical cost and improving functional status.

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MS prevalence in New Zealand, an ethnically and latitudinally diverse country

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458510379614 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. 1422-1431 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Bruce V Taylor ◽

John F Pearson ◽

Glynnis Clarke ◽

Deborah F Mason ◽

David A Abernethy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Latitudinal Gradient ◽

Population Level ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

European Population ◽

Multiple Sources ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The North ◽

Mcdonald Criteria

Background: The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) is not uniform, with a latitudinal gradient of prevalence present in most studies. Understanding the drivers of this gradient may allow a better understanding of the environmental factors involved in MS pathogenesis. Method: The New Zealand national MS prevalence study (NZMSPS) is a cross-sectional study of people with definite MS (DMS) (McDonald criteria 2005) resident in New Zealand on census night, 7 March 2006, utilizing multiple sources of notification. Capture—recapture analysis (CRA) was used to estimate missing cases. Results: Of 2917 people with DMS identified, the crude prevalence was 72.4 per 100,000 population, and 73.1 per 100,000 when age-standardized to the European population. CRA estimated that 96.7% of cases were identified. A latitudinal gradient was seen with MS prevalence increasing three-fold from the North (35°S) to the South (48°S). The gradient was non-uniform; females with relapsing—remitting/secondary-progressive (RRMS/SPMS) disease have a gradient 11 times greater than males with primary-progressive MS ( p < 1 × 10-7). DMS was significantly less common among those of Māori ethnicity. Conclusions: This study confirms the presence of a robust latitudinal gradient of MS prevalence in New Zealand. This gradient is largely driven by European females with the RRMS/SPMS phenotype. These results indicate that the environmental factors that underlie the latitudinal gradient act differentially by gender, ethnicity and MS phenotype. A better understanding of these factors may allow more targeted MS therapies aimed at modifiable environmental triggers at the population level.

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Abstract P72: The Obesity Paradox: Association Between Body Mass Index (BMI) and Disability After Stroke

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.52.suppl_1.p72 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Brianna R Helms

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Functional Status ◽

Hospital Discharge ◽

Body Mass ◽

Obesity Paradox ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Stroke Recurrence ◽

Inverse Association ◽

Stroke Patients

Background: Present rise in the incidence of obesity has led to several opposing reports regarding the association between obesity and stroke outcomes. The objective of this study was to investigate a proposed paradoxical relationship between body mass index (BMI) and functional status in ischemic stroke patients at time of hospital discharge. Methods: Saint Francis Hospital Comprehensive Stroke Center patient databases were utilized in identifying 948 patients eligible for retrospective chart review over a period of 15 months. Subjects were divided into 4 groups according to BMI: underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m 2 ), normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m 2 ), overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m 2 ), and obese (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m 2 ). Covariates, such as age, gender, prior to event modified Rankin scale (mRS), stroke recurrence, and smoking, were considered. Functional status and disability of stroke patients was scored via mRS at hospital discharge. Ordered logistic regression, Pearson’s chi-squared test, and Pearson’s r correlation were used for analysis to assess the association of BMI and functional status in ischemic strokes. Results: Of 948 eligible subjects, 49.9% were female and mean (SD) age was 69.4 (14.5) years. According to BMI, 22 (2.3%) were underweight, 247 (26.1%) normal weight, 319 (33.7%) overweight, and 360 (37.9%) obese. After adjusting for covariates, ischemic stroke patients with an increased BMI (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.96-0.99) were not associated with increased disability risk upon discharge. Obese (16.2%) and overweight (14.1%) patients discharged with a mRS of 0 (back to baseline) or 1 more frequently compared to normal weight (6.1%) and underweight (0.21%) patients ( P <0.001). Furthermore, an inverse association between BMI status and disability was significantly evident ( r = -0.17, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Obese and overweight stroke patients discharge with a lower risk of disability than normal weight and underweight patients, supporting the existence of the “obesity paradox” in stroke. An inverse association between obesity status and functional outcome was identified and remained significant regardless of covariates.

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Abstract 1122‐000242: Effect of Covid‐19 on Stroke Treatment in Australia and New Zealand

Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology ◽

10.1161/svin.01.suppl_1.000242 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (S1) ◽

Author(s):

Ela Machiroutu

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Stroke Care ◽

Small Subset ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Secondary Research ◽

Stroke Treatment ◽

Survey Tool ◽

Early Adoption ◽

Survey Responses ◽

The Impact

Introduction : In general, compared to the rest of the world, the impact of Covid‐19 in the Australia and New Zealand regions has been minimal and this may be attributed to their early adoption of social distancing, stable governments, national wealth and geographic isolation. However, this research was designed to validate this perception amongst the stakeholders. Methods : This research included: primary and secondary research. First, secondary research about Covid‐19 and stroke treatment and Australia and New Zealand in particular was conducted and compiled in a Google spreadsheet. Research sources include Stroke Foundation, Brain Foundation, and World Meters. Data collected included the number of stroke and Covid‐19 cases in Australia and New Zealand as well as a list of stakeholders with their contact information. The stakeholders included neurosurgeons, hospitals, neurologists, interventionists, and vascular surgeons. A survey tool and an interview questions were prepared next. The survey request was emailed to stakeholders, requesting the stakeholders for an interview and survey response. Over the following weeks, survey results came in and interviews were conducted. Since only a small subset of stakeholders responded to the survey (6 survey responses and 4 interviews), this study must be considered to be primarily qualitative in nature. The interviews were conducted online using Zoom. After the interviews, I replayed the interviews and took notes of important details. Results : The survey showed that 83% of the doctors worked in a hospital that had a separate stroke unit and that they perform mechanical thrombectomies most often as a treatment for stroke. Most of the doctors suggested that the stroke numbers have not changed significantly since Covid‐19. Yet, 50% of the doctors said that there had been delays in admitting stroke patients. One third believed Covid‐19 may have made an impact on mortality of stroke patients. One of the interviewees revealed that the main barriers to access to stroke care are the time it takes to treat the patient, fewer locations that treat strokes or perform mechanical thrombectomy, and patients’ reluctance to go to the hospital during the pandemic. Another confirmed that she did think there had been delays due to Covid‐19. Conclusions : Counter to widespread perception, Covid‐19 pandemic DID worsen many barriers for stroke treatment in Australia and New Zealand. These regions have insufficient stroke centers and these are not spread out widely enough for accessibility. Stroke deaths have increased during the Covid‐19 pandemic. Barriers such as time, accessibility, and the patient’s fear of hospitals have affected stroke treatment during the pandemic. Several measures can alleviate the impact: stroke awareness is critical. Every hospital needs to have the ability to assess and treat stroke. Hospitals must run simulations to practice and prepare for different scenarios that they could encounter when dealing with stroke patients. In conclusion, stroke treatment has been affected by the Covid‐19 pandemic and it is critical to minimize and overcome these barriers as stroke is one of the leading causes of death in Australia and New Zealand.

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