Introduction:
Acute ischemic stroke patients receiving IV alteplase (t-PA) within 4.5 hours of symptom onset are 30% more likely to have minimal or no disability at 3 months. During hospitalization, short-term disability is subjectively measured by discharge disposition, whether to home or Inpatient Rehabilitation (IR), Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) or Sub-acute Care (Sub). There are no studies assessing the role of IV t-PA as a predictor of short-term disability, evidenced by post-stroke disposition.
Hypothesis:
Low NIHSS is a predictor of high functional status. We assessed the hypothesis that similar to low NIHSS, t-PA predicts post-stroke disposition to a level of care suggestive of high functional status.
Methods:
All patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to the UT Service between January 2004 and October 2009 were included. Stratification occurred for age>65, NIHSS and stroke risk factors. Using multivariate logistic regression, the data was analyzed to determine whether there were differences in post-stroke disposition among patients who received t-PA.
Results:
Patients with mild (NIHSS<8) and moderate (NIHSS 8 to 16) stroke were discharged to the highest level of care in each analysis.
Home vs. Other Level of Care
Of 2261 patients, 1032 were discharged home, 1229 to another level of care. Patients who received t-PA were
1.7
times more likely to be discharged home (P = <.0001, OR 1.663, 95% CI 1.326 to 2.085).
IR vs. SNF
Of 1111 patients, 731 patients were discharged to acute IR, 380 to SNF. There were no statistically significant differences in disposition between patients who received t-PA. (P = .0638, OR 1.338, 95% CI 0.983 to 1.822).
SNF vs. Sub
Of 498 patients, 380 were discharged to SNF, 118 to Sub. There were no significant differences in disposition between patients who received t-PA.
Conclusion:
Acute stroke patients who receive IV t-PA are more 1.7 times more likely to be discharged home. If post-stroke care is necessary, there is a trend toward rehabilitation at a level reflective of improved functional status (IR vs. SNF). This study is limited by its retrospective nature and the undetermined role of psychosocial factors related to discharge. Prospective studies of time to t-PA therapy in relation to post-stroke disposition are warranted.
Role of Monitoring in Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients
