Stroke-Related Mortality in the United States-Mexico Border Area of the United States, 1999 to 2018

Risk Factors Associated With Neurological and Extra-Neurological Complications and Mortality in Patients With Stroke

Introduction Understanding when and how systemic complications can occur after an acute stroke is crucial. It is important to identify patients who are at higher risk for these complications. Early and effective treatment based on this knowledge can significantly improve patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with neurological and extra-neurological complications and mortality in stroke patients treated at a secondary care hospital. Methods Of a total of 170 patients diagnosed with hemorrhagic/ischemic stroke and transient cerebral ischemia at a secondary care hospital in Mexico, the records of 125 were reviewed and of these, 86 were included in the study. The study group comprised 86 adult patients (> 18 years of age) diagnosed with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke or transient cerebral ischemia. Their demographics, clinical characteristics, in-hospital complications, and mortality were retrospectively analyzed.  Results Of the 86 patients examined, 34.9% experienced complications, regardless of the type of stroke. The most significant factor associated with mortality and complications during hospitalization in patients with stroke was previous diseases. Other factors that were linked to higher mortality were pre-existing medical conditions. The most common neurological complication among patients with stroke during hospitalization was intracranial hypertension (3.5%). As for extra-neurological complications, pressure ulcers and nosocomial pneumonia had an occurrence rate of 4.7%. Conclusions The main neurological complication during hospitalization of patients with stroke was intracranial hypertension, while the extra neurological complications were pressure ulcers and nosocomial pneumonia.

Stroke-Related Mortality in the United States-Mexico Border Area of the United States, 1999 to 2018

BACKGROUND The United States (US)-Mexico border is a socioeconomically underserved area. We sought to investigate whether stroke-related mortality varies between the US border and nonborder counties. METHODS AND RESULTS We used death certificates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database to examine stroke-related mortality in border versus nonborder counties in California, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. We measured average annual percent changes (AAPCs) in age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100 000 between 1999 and 2018. Overall, AAMRs were higher for nonborder counties, older adults, men, and non-Hispanic Black adults than their counterparts. Between 1999 and 2018, AAMRs reduced from 55.8 per 100 000 to 34.4 per 100 000 in the border counties (AAPC, -2.70) and 64.5 per 100 000 to 37.6 per 100 000 in nonborder counties (AAPC, -2.92). The annual percent change in AAMR initially decreased, followed by stagnation in both border and nonborder counties since 2012. The AAPC in AAMR decreased in all 4 states; however, AAMR increased in California's border counties since 2012 (annual percent change, 3.9). The annual percent change in AAMR decreased for older adults between 1999 and 2012 for the border (-5.10) and nonborder counties (-5.01), followed by a rise in border counties and stalling in nonborder counties. Although the AAPC in AAMR decreased for both sexes, the AAPC in AAMR differed significantly for non-Hispanic White adults in border (-2.69) and nonborder counties (-2.86). The mortality decreased consistently for all other ethnicities/races in both border and nonborder counties. CONCLUSIONS Stroke-related mortality varied between the border and nonborder counties. Given the substantial public health implications, targeted interventions aimed at vulnerable populations are required to improve stroke-related outcomes in the US-Mexico border area.