Introduction:
Optimization of secondary stroke prevention is an essential part of stroke care globally. We sought to assess differences in medication utilization between African Americans (AA), Non-Hispanic Whites (NW), and Ghanaians in addition to effects related to location of residence (rural versus urban).
Methods:
Data from the UFHealth institutional stroke database and the Kumasi, Ghana Stroke Survivors Registry between 01/2014 and 11/2019 provided a dataset of adult patients diagnosed with stroke from both locations. Multivariate regression analysis identified differences between country of origin, race, patient demographics, location of residence, stroke risk factors, and clinical management following stroke.
Results:
Of the 5519 patients studied, the median age was 66 (IQR 45 - 87), 16% were AA, 19% Ghanaian, 66% NW, and 51% were male. After controlling for age, sex, stroke type, and stroke risk factors, we found that in comparison to the AA and NW, patients from Ghana were more likely to be prescribed angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (OR 1.42, 1.05-1.93 95% CI), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) (OR 18.36, 13.08-25.78 95% CI), calcium channel blockers (CCB) (OR 8.35, 6.30-11.08 95% CI), statin (OR 3.26, 2.26-4.59 95% CI), anti-diabetic oral agents (OR 7.18, 4.21-12.27 95% CI); less likely to be prescribed anticoagulant (OR 0.22, 0.12-0.40 95% CI), beta blockers (BB) (OR 0.15, 0.11-0.21 95% CI), and insulin (OR 0.11, 0.06-0.20 95% CI). In comparison to AA, Ghanaians were more likely to be prescribed statin (OR 3.06, 1.93-4.86 95% CI), ARBs (OR 22.87, 13.85-37.79 95% CI), CCBs (OR 5.83, 3.94-8.62 95% CI), anti-diabetic oral agents (OR 8.89, 4.25-18.59 95% CI); less likely to live in an urban vs rural setting (OR 0.64, 0.46-0.89 95% CI), be prescribed anticoagulant (OR 0.28, 0.14-0.55 95% CI), BBs (OR 0.13, 0.0.09-0.19 95% CI), and insulin (OR 0.11, 0.05-0.23 95% CI).
Conclusion:
In conclusion, we found significant differences in the prevalence of medications prescribed for stroke prevention between Ghana and the U.S. Further research is needed to determine if these differences result in consequential differences in stroke reoccurrence between these populations.