Regional Variation in Recommended Treatments for Ischemic Stroke and TIA

Abstract

Background and Purpose— Secondary stroke prevention treatments vary in different regions of the US. We determined the degree to which guideline-recommended stroke treatments vary by region for patients treated at hospitals participating in a voluntary national quality improvement program, Get With The Guidelines-Stroke. Methods— Receipt of 8 guideline-recommended treatments (intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator, antihypertensives, antithrombotics, anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis, lipid-lowering medications at discharge, smoking cessation counseling, weight loss education) and defect-free care were compared in 4 US regions among eligible patients with ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack; there was adjustment for patient demographics, medical history, and hospital characteristics. Results— Among 991 995 admissions (South, 37%; Northeast, 27.6%; Midwest, 19.3%; West, 15.9%). Receipt varied regionally for tissue-type plasminogen activator (58.2%–67.8%), lipid-lowering medications (72.5%–75.7%), antihypertensives (80.1%–83.6%), antithrombotics (95.6%–96.8%), deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis (88.0%–91.4%), weight loss education (49.3%–54.7%), and defect-free care (72.1%–76.5%). In adjusted analyses, patients in the South had lower odds of use of intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (OR [95% CI]; 0.82 [0.69–0.97]), antihypertensives (0.82 [0.67–0.99]), and defect-free care (0.83 [0.75–0.92]); but, they were more likely to receive lipid-lowering medications (1.28 [1.05–1.54]) compared with those in the Northeast. Patients in the Midwest had lower odds of intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator administration (0.82 [0.68–0.99]) and defect-free care (0.81 [0.72–0.92]). Those in the West had lower odds of antihypertensives (0.81 [0.67–0.99]), but had greater odds of receiving lipid-lowering medications (1.26 [1.03–1.53]). Conclusions— Despite relatively high rates of adherence to stroke-related therapies in Get With The Guidelines-Stroke hospitals, regional variations exist, with over one quarter of patients receiving suboptimal care. Systematic improvements may lead to better patient outcomes.