Introduction:
Prior studies have shown racial disparities in tPA use for acute ischemic stroke. With the implementation of nationwide quality improvement measures, we sought to describe the temporal change in racial disparity in tPA administration.
Hypothesis:
Disparity in tPA administration improved across all racial groups in the past decade
Methods:
Data were obtained from all US states that contributed to the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. All patients (N=5,932,175) admitted to hospitals between 2000 and 2010 with a discharge diagnosis of ischemic stroke (ICD9 codes) were included. Primary analysis was the proportion of patients who received tPA administration stratified by race (white, black, Hispanic, Asian) temporally. Survey-weighted Poisson regression was used to estimate the rate ratio and compare the trend for yearly change between race categories.
Results:
Of the patients with ischemic stroke, 55.4% were white, black 11.89%, Hispanic 5.32%, Asian 1.89%, others 1.77%, missing race 23.31%. tPA administration rate increased from 2000 to 2010 regardless of race. In 2000, tPA administration rate was 0.96%, 0.40%, 0.73%, 0.59% in white, black, Hispanic, Asian, respectively. In 2010, tPA administration rate was 4.0%, 2.14%, 2.09%, 2.13% respectively. The relative change was the greatest in black with rate ratio of 6.7 (5.95-7.54), compared to other racial groups, Asian 5.36 (4.23-6.78), Hispanic 3.93 (3.42-4.51), and white 3.88 (3.74-4.03).
Conclusions:
Over the last decade, the rate of tPA administration for acute ischemic stroke in the United States have increased for every racial group. There is a lasting but improved disparity in tPA administration in non-white race. Targeted interventions designed to increase treatment and close disparity gap focusing on culturally tailored education and communications to address barriers need to be further explored.
Effect of Statins on Renal Function and Total Kidney Volume in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
