Abstract
Introduction
: Multiple factors have been reported to influence the time between onset of symptoms in acute ischemic stroke and hospital presentation. Although education level is one independent factor in presentation, as we previously reported, health literacy has not been fully assessed regarding specific patient knowledge on stroke or its known risk factors. This study aims to determine whether having a history of vascular risk factors such as prior stroke, coronary artery disease (CAD), or atrial fibrillation (AF) influence presentation time and acute ischemic stroke therapy utilization.
Methods
: This study included 250 acute ischemic stroke patients presenting to a large academic community hospital from February to December 2018. Educational level was defined within four categories: Grade School, High School, College or Higher, and Unknown. Last seen normal, symptom onset, and arrival times were acquired. Vascular risk factors chosen for this study included prior stroke, CAD, and AF. History of vascular risk factors was verified by medical documentation showing prior diagnosis by physician. Initial NIH Stroke Scale score, stroke location, vessel involved, LDL, hemoglobin A1c, gender, and race were also obtained. Patients were categorized based on their level of education, the presence or absence of vascular risk factors, and utilization of tPA or thrombectomy (MT). The primary outcomes were onset‐to‐arrival time (OTA), in minutes, and utilization rates of acute ischemic stroke therapies (either tPA, MT, or both). Subgroup analysis was conducted to associate education level with each vascular risk factor, comparing OTA and acute ischemic stroke therapy utilization rate.
Results
: As previously reported, educational level was inversely associated with OTA and positively associated with utilization of at least one acute ischemic stroke therapy. Prior stroke, CAD, and AF showed a substantial OTA decrease for all education groups except for College. Prior stroke decreased OTA in Grade School by 24% (764 vs. 579); High School by 30% (222 vs. 154) and College by 20% (52 vs. 41). CAD decreased OTA in Grade School by 65% (734 vs. 253), High School by 14% (209 vs. 180), and College by 3% (50 vs 49). AF decreased OTA in Grade School by 88% (764 vs. 91) and High School by 56% (216 vs. 95), but increased in College by 35% (47 vs. 64). History of prior stroke decreased utilization of both tPA and MT by 14%; CAD increased tPA use by 8% and MT by 5%; while AF increased tPA use by 9% and MT by 12%.
Conclusions
: Having at least one prior vascular risk factor (prior stroke, CAD, AF), diagnosed by a physician, was associated with lower OTA in Grade School and High School educated patients. A history of prior stroke was associated with lower acute stroke therapy utilization (tpa and MT), while both CAD and AF were associated with increased acute stroke therapy utilization.