Use of Emergency Medical Services and Timely Treatment Among Ischemic Stroke

Clinical factors influencing intravenous thrombolysis in patients with cerebral infarction: a retrospective cohort study comparing private car and ambulance transport in Jiaxing, China

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to evaluate and compare the clinical differences in intravenous thrombolytic therapy among patients with cerebral infarction transported to the hospital by private cars versus ambulances in Jiaxing, a non-supersized city in China. It also sought to examine the impact of different transportation methods on emergency department arrival times, delays in initiating thrombolytic therapy and final clinical prognosis. The findings aim to provide a basis for optimising emergency treatment protocols and improving outcomes for patients with cerebral infarction.

DESIGN

Data on age, gender, height, weight, body mass index, season, time of day (day vs night), modified Rankin Scale scores, door-to-needle time (DNT) and onset-to-needle time (ONT) were retrospectively collected from 808 patients admitted to the emergency department of the Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University for intravenous thrombolysis between January 2019 and September 2022. The data were analysed and compared.

SETTING

A retrospective cohort study conducted in Jiaxing, China.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcomes were DNT and ONT.

RESULTS

Among the 808 eligible patients, 279 (34.53%) were transported by ambulance, and 529 (65.47%) arrived by private car. Patients in the private car group were younger on average than those in the ambulance group (aged 64.70 vs 68.41 years). Although ambulance transport resulted in shorter prehospital transportation times (113.89 vs 127.38 min), patients arriving by private car had shorter thrombolytic therapy initiation times (39.90 vs 36.30 min). At admission, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores were higher in the ambulance group (4 vs 2), indicating more severe conditions and a greater proportion of patients requiring bridging thrombectomy after thrombolysis (7.53% vs 3.02%).

CONCLUSION

In non-supersized cities, private car transportation for acute patients with cerebral infarction may lead to shorter DNT and ONT compared with those in ambulance transport. However, patients transported by ambulance tended to have more severe conditions, highlighting the importance of tailored emergency response strategies.

Research progress on influencing factors and intervention measures of pre-hospital delays in acute ischemic stroke

BackgroundStroke, a leading cause of health impairment globally, sees intravenous thrombolysis as the primary treatment during the acute phase, yet delays persist due to pre-hospital and in-hospital factors. While research has reduced in-hospital delays significantly, pre-hospital delays remain a concern both domestically and internationally.ObjectiveThis article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the research progress on the influencing factors and intervention measures of pre-hospital delays in acute ischemic stroke.MethodsBy analyzing the literature, summarize the risk factors leading to treatment delay in acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and provide a review of potential improvement methods.ResultsPre-hospital delay in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is influenced by both objective factors like age, gender, and regional economic status, as well as subjective factors such as stroke awareness. The introduction of "Stroke 120," a stroke education slogan tailored to Chinese language habits, aims to improve stroke awareness and address delayed treatment and low AIS venous thrombolysis utilization among the Chinese publicConclusionIn conclusion, collaborative efforts from the government, society, and hospitals are essential to enhance stroke education comprehensively. This will ensure widespread awareness of stroke knowledge, facilitating timely and effective treatment for AIS patients.

Analysis of onset-to-door time and its influencing factors in Chinese patients with acute ischemic stroke during the 2020 COVID-19 epidemic: a preliminary, prospective, multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Pre-hospital delay in China is a serious issue with unclear relevant reasons, seriously impeding the adoption of appropriate measures. Herein, we analyzed the onset-to-door time (ODT) in Chinese patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and its influencing factors.

METHODS

We prospectively recruited 3,459 patients with AIS from nine representative tertiary general hospitals in China between January and June 2022. Patients were divided into ODT ≤ 3 h and ODT > 3 h groups. Following single-factor analysis, binary logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors leading to pre-hospital delay.

RESULTS

In total, 763 (21.83%) patients arrived at the hospital within 3 h of onset. After adjusting for confounding factors, the risk factors for ODT were residence in rural areas (odds ratio [OR]: 1.478, 95% credibility interval [CI]: 1.024-2.146) and hospital transfer (OR: 7.479, 95% CI: 2.548-32.337). The protective factors for ODT were location of onset ≤ 20 km from the first-visit hospital (OR: 0.355, 95% CI: 0.236-0.530), transportation by emergency medical services (OR: 0.346, 95% CI: 0.216-0.555), history of atrial fibrillation (OR: 0.375, 95% CI: 0.207-0.679), moderate stroke (OR: 0.644, 95% CI: 0.462-0.901), and severe stroke (OR: 0.506, 95% CI: 0.285-0.908).

CONCLUSIONS

Most patients with AIS fail to reach a hospital within the critical 3-h window. The following measures are recommended to reduce pre-hospital delays: reasonable distribution of hospitals accessible to nearby residents, minimizing interhospital transfer, paying attention to patients with mild stroke, and encouraging patients to use ambulance services. Pre-hospital delays for patients can be reduced by implementing these measures, ultimately improving the timeliness of treatment and enhancing patient prognosis. This study was carried out amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which presented challenges and constraints.

Value of the stroke 1-2-0 prehospital stroke education system: the experience of a general practitioner team

BACKGROUND

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, especially in developing countries. In China, there is an urgent need to educate people about stroke awareness and the importance of using emergency medical services (EMS) quickly after a stroke has occurred.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to explore the effects of the Stroke 1-2-0 Prehospital Stroke Education System based on the experience of a general practitioner team.

METHOD

We prospectively enrolled 119 community general practitioners to be trained in the procedures advocated by the Stroke 1-2-0 Prehospital Stroke Education System. The training content included early detection of ischemic stroke, first aid for stroke, and intravenous thrombolysis; The effects of the training were later evaluated via a before-and-after comparison. The 119 enrolled physicians formed a Stroke 1-2-0 lecturer group and taught stroke knowledge to community residents. The group remained active for 6 months, during which the medical treatment data of stroke patients (i.e., stroke onset time, prehospital delay, whether an ambulance was called, and whether thrombolytic therapy was performed) in each of 5 jurisdictions were recorded for the month before (January 2021) and that after (August 2021) the 6-month community education program. Finally, the effects of the community education program were evaluated.

RESULTS

The participants' understanding of intravenous thrombolysis in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke improved significantly after the training as compared with their earlier understanding (96% vs. 78.99%; P < .001), and their understanding of the time window for intravenous thrombolysis increased from 26.05% before to 72% (P < .001) after the training. Most of the participants (90% vs. 67.23%; P < .001) said that they would immediately call the 120 emergency number of China's emergency phone system if they encountered individuals who appeared to be victims of acute stroke. A total of 82 stroke patients were seen before and 67 after the community education program. As for the use of the emergency call system, more patients with stroke activated that system after the program versus before (21.95% vs. 37.31%; P = .04). The 3-hour arrival rate after the program was nearly three times higher than that before the program (62.69% vs. 19.51%; P < .001). Also, regarding receiving thrombolysis after the occurrence of a stroke, the program triggered a substantial increase compared with the total earlier (19.4% vs. 6.1%; P = .013).

CONCLUSION

We found that the Stroke 1-2-0 Prehospital Stroke Education System significantly improved community residents' knowledge regarding stroke.

Effects of emergency medical services on timely treatment and outcome in stroke patients with intravenous thrombolysis among the severity of neurologic deficits: A retrospective observational study

Whether emergency medical service (EMS) improves the outcome of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is still unknown among the severity of neurologic deficits. This study is to investigate the impact of EMS use on timely treatment and outcomes of AIS with IVT. This is a retrospective observational study. Clinical data after IVT from January 2017 to May 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, including onset-to-needle time (ONT), onset-to-door time (ODT). The patients were divided into EMS and non-EMS groups according to the method of admission. A good outcome was defined as a modified Rankin scale score of ≤2 at 3 months. The severity of neurological deficits was assessed using the national institutes of health stroke scale. A total of 2303 patients were analyzed (906 [(39.3%] female; mean age, 68 ± 13 year), and 1028 (44.6%) patients were transported by EMS and 1418 (67.9%) patients achieved good outcome. Among all patients, compared with non-EMS patients, EMS patients had shorter ONT (148 minutes vs 155 minutes, P = .002) and ODT (95 minutes vs 104 minutes, P < .001), but lower rate of good outcome (61.7% vs 73.0%, P < .001). The multivariate analysis showed that the use of EMS was negatively associated with ONT (ρ = -0.041, P = .048) and ODT (ρ = -0.051, P = .014). Among moderate to severe stroke patients, EMS was related with good outcome independently (OR: 3.101, 95%CI: 1.367-7.038, P = .007). In ischemic stroke, EMS can shorten the pre-hospital delay. Among moderate to severe stroke patients, EMS can further improve the outcome. But the study needs further validation.

Comparison between healthcare quality in primary stroke centers and comprehensive stroke centers for acute stroke patients: evidence from the Chinese Stroke Center Alliance

Background

To improve stroke care quality, the guidelines for stroke center construction in China recommended establishing primary stroke centers (PSCs) and comprehensive stroke centers (CSCs). We aimed to compare stroke care quality between the two types of centers.

Methods

Data were collected from acute stroke patients admitted to PSCs or CSCs in the China Stroke Center Alliance program. Twenty-one individual guideline-recommended performance measures and two summary measures were compared between the two groups. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the association between stroke center status (CSC vs. PSC) and healthcare quality.

Findings

Data from 750,594 stroke patients from 1474 stroke centers (252 CSCs and 1222 PSCs) were analyzed. For many components of healthcare performance in stroke patients, comparable levels of performance were observed between CSCs and PCSs. Nonetheless, CSCs outperformed PSCs in the areas of administering intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator within 4.5 h (aOR = 1.31 [95% CI: 1.07-1.60]), rehabilitation for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) (aOR = 1.19 [95% CI: 1.01-1.40]), and the provision of hypoglycemic medication and statin therapy upon discharge for AIS (aOR = 1.26 [95% CI: 1.00-1.59] and aOR = 1.28 [95% CI: 1.04-1.59], respectively). More patients with intracerebral haemorrhage and subarachnoid haemorrhage received neurosurgery in CSCs (14.4% vs. 10.6% and 51.0% vs. 33.9%, respectively). Additionally, CSCs had higher in-hospital mortality than PSCs (aOR = 1.33 [95% CI: 1.01-1.73]).

Interpretation

Overall PSCs provided equivalent care for many quality measures to CSCs in China with the exception of thrombolysis, rehabilitation access, and medication at discharge for AIS, whereby improvements should be directed. Nevertheless, PSCs have demonstrated lower risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality rates.

Funding

The National Key Research and Development Projects of China.

Factors Affecting the Delay of intravenous Thrombolysis in Hyperacute Ischemic Stroke Patients: A Single Centre Study

Introduction

Intravenous thrombolysis with r-tPA is the gold standard procedure in managing acute ischemic stroke recommended by the World Stroke Association, which is performed by injecting the drug r-tPA (Alteplase) intravenously. Generally, the preparation time to achieve thrombolysis is divided into pre-hospital and in-hospital. If this time can be shortened, the efficacy of thrombolysis can be increased. This study aims to determine the factors that can affect the delay in thrombolysis.

Methods

This is an analytic observational study with a retrospective cohort design in ischemic stroke confirmed by a neurologist at the neurology emergency unit of Hasan Sadikin Hospital (RSHS) from January 2021 to December 2021 and divided into two groups, delay and non-delay thrombolysis. A logistic regression test was performed to determine the independent predictor of delayed thrombolysis.

Results

There were 141 patients with an ischemic stroke diagnosis confirmed by a neurologist at the neurological emergency unit at Hasan Sadikin Hospital (RSHS) from January 2021 to December 2021. A total of 118 (83.69%) patients were included in the "delay" category, while 23 (16.31%) patients were included in the "non-delay" category. Patients included in the "delay" category had an average age of 58.29+11.19 years with a male-to-female sex ratio of 57%, while patients included in the "non-delay" category had an average age of 55.57+15.55 years with a male-to-female sex ratio of 66%. The NIHSS admission score was a significant risk factor for delayed thrombolysis. Through multiple logistic regression, it was found that age, onset, female gender, NIHSS admission score, and NIHSS discharge score were independent predictors of delayed thrombolysis. However, all of them were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Gender, risk factors for dyslipidemia, and arrival onset are independent predictors of delayed thrombolysis. Prehospital factors contribute relatively more to the delay in thrombolytic action.

Emergency medical service utilization and timely treatment among acute ischemic stroke patients in Beijing from 2018 to 2021

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE

Activation of emergency medical services (EMS) is recommended for timely reperfusion therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The association of EMS utilization and time intervals from hospital arrival to a series of necessary procedures before reperfusion therapy was rarely investigated.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to investigate the association of EMS utilization with the time intervals from hospital arrival to therapy in patients with AIS.

DESIGN

Observational study.

SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS

Medical records for AIS in all emergency departments in Beijing were obtained from January 2018 to December 2021.

INTERVENTION OR EXPOSURE

Patients transported by ambulance were defined as the EMS group, whereas others as the non-EMS group.

OUTCOME MEASURES AND ANALYSIS

Door-to-imaging time (DIT), door-to-needle time (DTN) and door-to-puncture time (DTP) were compared between the two groups.

MAIN RESULTS

There were 11 190 (46%) and 13 106 (54%) AIS patients in the EMS and non-EMS groups. Compared with the non-EMS group, patients in the EMS group were more likely to receive intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular therapy (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.68-1.94). For intravenous thrombolysis therapy, the DIT, ITN (time in minutes from obtaining the first brain imaging to tPA delivery) and DTN times in the EMS group were significantly shorter with time differences between the two groups of -1.1 (95% CI, -1.1 to -1.1) min, -2.6 (-2.6 to -2.6) min, and -3.7 (-3.8, -3.7) min, respectively. The proportion of DIT ≤25 min, DTN ≤45 min or DTN ≤60 min was significantly higher in the EMS group (OR, 1.03, 95% CI, 1.02-1.05; 1.11, 1.07-1.14; 1.05, 1.03-1.07). For endovascular therapy, the differences in DIT, ITP (time in minutes from obtaining the first brain imaging to groin puncture) and DTP times between the EMS and non-EMS groups were +1.1 (1.0-1.2) min, -3.8 (-4.2 to -3.5) min, -2.7 (-3.1 to -2.4) min, respectively, but no significant association was observed between EMS usage and the proportion of DIT ≤25 min or DTP ≤90 min.

CONCLUSION

In this observational study, the use of EMS for patient with AIS was associated with a shorter time from hospital arrival to intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular therapy.

Temporal trends and rural-urban disparities in cerebrovascular risk factors, in-hospital management and outcomes in ischaemic strokes in China from 2005 to 2015: a nationwide serial cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Stroke is the leading cause of mortality in China, with limited evidence of in-hospital burden obtained from nationwide surveys. We aimed to monitor and track the temporal trends and rural-urban disparities in cerebrovascular risk factors, management and outcomes from 2005 to 2015.

METHODS

We used a two-stage random sampling survey to create a nationally representative sample of patients admitted for ischaemic stroke in 2005, 2010 and 2015. We sampled participating hospitals with an economic-geographical region-stratified random-sampling approach first and then obtained patients with a systematic sampling approach. We weighed our survey data to estimate the national-level results and assess changes from 2005 to 2015.

RESULTS

We analysed 28 277 ischaemic stroke admissions from 189 participating hospitals. From 2005 to 2015, the estimated national hospital admission rate for ischaemic stroke per 100 000 people increased (from 75.9 to 402.7, Ptrend<0.001), and the prevalence of risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and current smoking, increased. The composite score of diagnostic tests for stroke aetiology assessment (from 0.22 to 0.36, Ptrend<0.001) and secondary prevention treatments (from 0.46 to 0.70, Ptrend<0.001) were improved. A temporal decrease was found in discharge against medical advice (DAMA) (from 15.2% (95% CI 13.7% to 16.7%) to 8.6% (8.1% to 9.0%); adjusted Ptrend=0.046), and decreases in in-hospital mortality (0.7% in 2015 vs 1.8% in 2005; adjusted OR (aOR) 0.52; 95% CI 0.32 to 0.85) and the composite outcome of in-hospital mortality or DAMA (8.4% in 2015 vs 13.9% in 2005; aOR 0.65; 95% CI 0.47 to 0.89) were observed. Disparities between rural and urban hospitals narrowed; however, disparities persisted in in-hospital management (brain MRI: rural-urban difference from -14.4% to -11.2%; cerebrovascular assessment: from -20.3% to -16.7%; clopidogrel: from -2.1% to -10.3%; anticoagulant for atrial fibrillation: from -10.9% to -8.2%) and in-hospital outcomes (DAMA: from 2.7% to 5.0%; composite outcome of in-hospital mortality or DAMA: from 2.4% to 4.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

From 2005 to 2015, improvements in hospital admission and in-hospital management for ischaemic stroke in China were found. A temporal improvement in DAMA and improvements in in-hospital mortality and the composite outcome of in-hospital mortality or DAMA were observed. Disparities between rural and urban hospitals generally narrowed but persisted.

Organizational Factors Determining Access to Reperfusion Therapies in Ischemic Stroke-Systematic Literature Review

BACKGROUND

After onset of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), there is a limited time window for delivering acute reperfusion therapies (ART) aiming to restore normal brain circulation. Despite its unequivocal benefits, the proportion of AIS patients receiving both types of ART, thrombolysis and thrombectomy, remains very low. The organization of a stroke care pathway is one of the main factors that determine timely access to ART. The knowledge on organizational factors influencing access to ART is sparce. Hence, we sought to systematize the existing data on the type and frequency of pre-hospital and in-hospital organizational factors that determine timely access to ART in patients with AIS.

METHODOLOGY

Literature review on the frequency and type of organizational factors that determine access to ART after AIS. Pubmed and Scopus databases were the primary source of data. OpenGrey and Google Scholar were used for searching grey literature. Study quality analysis was based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS

A total of 128 studies were included. The main pre-hospital factors associated with delay or access to ART were medical emergency activation practices, pre-notification routines, ambulance use and existence of local/regional-specific strategies to mitigate the impact of geographic distance between patient locations and Stroke Unit (SU). The most common intra-hospital factors studied were specific location of SU and brain imaging room within the hospital, and the existence and promotion of specific stroke treatment protocols. Most frequent factors associated with increased access ART were periodic public education, promotion of hospital pre-notification and specific pre- and intra-hospital stroke pathways. In specific urban areas, mobile stroke units were found to be valid options to increase timely access to ART.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of different organizational factors and strategies can reduce time delays and increase the number of AIS patients receiving ART, with most of them being replicable in any context, and some in only very specific contexts.

Effect of acupuncture for disorders of consciousness in patients with stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Disorder of consciousness (DOC) is frequent in patients with stroke, which is the second most common cause of death and a leading cause of disability. Acupuncture has been used as a curative method for DOC treatment in China. Nevertheless, no critical systematic review of acupuncture's effect on DOC has been published. This review aims to evaluate the present evidence regarding the efficacy of acupuncture for DOC after stroke.

Methods

Seven databases were searched from their inception to November 1, 2021, containing three English databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) and four Chinese databases (CNKI, CBM, VIP, and Wanfang Database). The primary outcomes comprise the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) before and after treatment. Secondary outcomes involve resuscitation rate, resuscitation time, and adverse events. Data synthesis was calculated by RevMan (V.5.4.1) software. According to the Cochrane Handbook, methodological quality was assessed with the risk of bias tool 2.0 (RoB2).

Results

Seventeen studies containing 1,208 patients were eventually included in our review. Overall, most trials were rated as high or had some concerns regarding the risk of bias. GCS was reported in 16 trials, and a meta-analysis showed that GCS improvement in the acupuncture group was greater than in the non-acupuncture group (MD 1.45, 95% CI 0.94-1.97, P < 0.0001). One trial reported that GOS improvement in the acupuncture plus medication group was greater than in the medication group (MD 0.58, 95% CI 0.11-1.05, P = 0.01). Another study reported that acupuncture plus medication was statistically more effective in shortening resuscitation time than medication alone (MD-0.89, 95% CI -1.53 to -0.25, P = 0.006). Four trials reported that the resuscitation rate in the acupuncture group was higher than without acupuncture intervention (RR 1.68, 95% CI 1.30-2.18, I 2 0%, P = 0.39). Adverse events were reported in two studies, with one case in the acupuncture group suffering from subcutaneous hematoma.

Conclusion

Acupuncture may improve consciousness level, increase the resuscitation rate, and shorten resuscitation time for post-stroke patients with DOC. Adverse events from acupuncture were rare, tolerable, and recoverable. However, the results should be interpreted cautiously, and more rigorous RCTs with better methodology are warranted.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=289802, identifier 289802.

Reducing intravenous thrombolysis delay in acute ischemic stroke through a quality improvement program in the emergency department

Objective

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a quality improvement program for reducing intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) delay in acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Materials and methods

We implement a quality improvement program consisting of 10 interventions for reducing IVT delay, including the establishment of an acute stroke team, standardized management of stroke teams, popularization of stroke and its treatment, emergency bypass route (BER), the achievement of computed tomography (CT) priority, no-delay CT interpretation, intravenous thrombolysis on the CT table, payment after treatment, whole recording, and incentive policy. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical time and outcome data of AIS patients treated with IVT in pre-intervention (108 patients) and post-intervention groups (598 patients), and further compared the differences between the non-emergency bypass route (NBER) and BER in the post-intervention group.

Results

The thrombolysis rate increased from ~29% in the pre-intervention group to 48% in the post-intervention group. Compared with the pre-intervention group, the median of door-to-needle time (DNT) was greatly shortened from 95 to 26 min (P < 0.001), door-to-CT time (DCT) was noticeably decreased from 20 to 18 min (P < 0.001), and onset-to-needle time (OTT) significantly declined from 206 to 133 min (P = 0.001). Under the new mode after the intervention, we further analyzed the IVT delay difference between the NBER (518 patients) and BER groups (80 patients) from the post-intervention group. The median values of DNT (18 vs. 27 min, P < 0.001), DCT (10 vs. 19 min, P < 0.001), and OTT (99 vs. 143 min, P < 0.001) showed significant reductions in the BER group. The quality improvement program under the emergency platform successfully controlled the median of DNT to within 26 min.

Conclusions

Collectively, the BER mode is a feasible scheme that greatly decreased DNT in AIS patients, and the secret to success was to accomplish as much as possible before the patient arrives at the emergency room.

Emergency medical service utilization among acute ischemic stroke patients in Beijing: An observational study

Objective

To investigate emergency medical service (EMS) utilization and its associated factors in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and further explore the urban-rural differences.

Methods

Medical records for AIS in all emergency departments in Beijing were obtained from the Beijing Emergency Care Database from January 2018 to December 2021. EMS utilization was described and factors associated with EMS use were examined by multivariable logistic regression models with the generalized estimating equations. Results were compared between urban and rural districts.

Results

A total of 24,296 AIS patients were included in the analysis, and 11,190 (46.1%) were transported to hospitals by EMS. The percentage of EMS usage in urban areas was significantly higher than that in rural areas (53.6 vs. 34.4%, P < 0.001). From 2018 to 2021, EMS utilization was on the increase (P-value for trend <0.001) with a higher average annual growth rate in rural areas (12.6%) than in urban (6.4%). Factors associated with EMS utilization were age (OR: 1.20 per 10-year increase, 95% CI: 1.17–1.23), NIHSS scores, off-hour arrival (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.23–1.37), treatment in tertiary hospitals (OR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.60–1.92), and possessing comorbidities such as coronary artery disease (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.17–1.24), atrial fibrillation (OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.41–1.73), prior stroke (OR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.78-0.90) or dyslipidemia (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.71–0.85).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated an inadequate use of EMS among AIS patients in Beijing, especially in rural areas, and revealed several associated factors. Enhanced education programs and EMS accessibility are necessary particularly for high-risk individuals and regions.

Pre-Hospital Delay in Patients With Acute Stroke During the Initial Phase of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak

BACKGROUND

When a sudden outbreak of an infectious disease occurs, emergency medical services (EMS) response could be negatively affected. The poor prognosis of acute stroke may be largely attributed to delays in treatment. This study aimed to identify the impact of the sudden outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on EMS response for patients with acute stroke.

METHODS

This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in 25 safety centers in Seoul, Korea. We enrolled patients with acute stroke who were transferred to the emergency department by EMS. The study period was from February-April 2020 and the same period in 2019. Patients were divided into two groups, pre-COVID-19 period and early-COVID-19 period, and previously collected patient data were analyzed. We performed comparative analyses of EMS response and clinical outcomes between the groups.

RESULTS

Of 465 patients, 231 (49.7%) had an acute stroke during the study period. There was no significant difference between clinical characteristics of patients with acute stroke before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. EMS response times increased significantly during the early COVID-19 outbreak. The intensive care unit admission rate and mortality rate increased during the early COVID-19 outbreak.

CONCLUSION

In the initial phase after the sudden COVID-19 outbreak, EMS response times for acute stroke were delayed and the clinical outcomes of patients with acute stroke deteriorated.

Improving Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke: The Implementation and Evaluation of a Theory-Based Resource Integration Project in China

Introduction:

Intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke remains underused in the developing countries. In 2016, a theory-based resource integration project was initiated at a major stroke center in China. This report describes the implementation process and results of the quality improvement project.

Description:

Eighteen environment-tailored interventions were implemented, including stroke code activation, electronic wristband bundling, structured information sharing, etc. The project was implemented from July 2016 to June 2017. A total of 519 acute ischemic stroke patients were included. After the intervention, median DNT decreased from 62 min to 37 min (P < 0.001). The percentage of cases treated within 30, 45 or 60 minutes increased from 2.5%, 17.4% and 44.6% to 27.4%, 69.4% and 84.7% respectively (P < 0.001). The median length of inpatient stay decreased from 10 days to 8 days (P < 0.001). The proportion of patients with severe disability decreased from 25.5% to 15.8% post-intervention.

Discussion:

Adequate pre-intervention activities are important conditions for the smooth implementation of the complex service integration initiative. The new treatment pathway has undergone a process of destruction, remodeling and solidification before stable and effective operation. In order to realize the full effect of service integration, whole society efforts are also required.

Conclusions:

Introduction of the theory-based resource integration project was associated with increased thrombolysis administrations, shorter DNT, and no statistically significant change in adverse outcomes. The basic principles of this project might be applicable to various resource settings.

Disparities in the Outcomes Following Ischemic Stroke Between the Floating Population and Indigenous Population of Shanghai

Background and Purposes: Through this study, we hope to gain more insights into the differences in outcome following an ischemic stroke between the floating population and the indigenous population of Shanghai.

Method: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke who were admitted to a comprehensive stroke center in the Minhang district, Shanghai, from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. All patient's demographic data and medical histories were prospectively collected and they were followed up for at least 3 months. The Indigenous population of Shanghai was defined as patients with an identification number starting with 310. All others were treated as floating population. The primary outcome was defined as an unfavorable prognosis at 3 months, with a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score above 1. Secondary outcomes included the use of emergency medical service (EMS), 3 h arrival rate, and endovascular therapy in eligible patients. Logistic regression analysis was applied to investigate the differences.

Results: Finally, 698 patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke were included (with mean age of 65.32 years, 74.6% men). Of these, 302 patients belonged to the floating population group. Indigenous populations with ischemic stroke were older than the floating population (68.26 years vs. 61.47 years, P &lt; 0.001). The floating population was more likely to achieve favorable outcomes at 3 months compared with the indigenous population in multivariable logistic regression analysis [Odds ratio (OR): 0.49, 95% CI: 0.32–0.75, P = 0.001]. The use of EMS, 3 h arrival rate, and the application of endovascular therapy were comparable between the floating population and indigenous population (OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.62–1.27, P = 0.519; OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.56–1.09, P = 0.14; and OR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.54–1.26, P = 0.365, respectively).

Conclusion: Compared with the indigenous population, the floating population with the first-ever ischemic stroke was more likely to have a favorable outcome at 3 months.

Poor awareness of stroke educational tools among older adults in China

BACKGROUND

Stroke 1-2-0 and FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) are two popular stroke educational tools that have been used in many stroke promotion campaigns. However, few researchers have investigated awareness of these tools among older adults in communities.

METHODS

This study was a cross-sectional survey of community-living older adults. Two family physicians conducted face-to-face interviews with older adults living in Minhang district, Shanghai, between October 1, 2020 and November 31, 2020. The survey comprised three parts: basic information, prior medical history, and stroke awareness knowledge. We focused on the awareness of FAST and Stroke 1-2-0 and investigated factors associated with awareness of these stroke educational tools.

RESULTS

The sample of this study was 466 older adults. Their mean age was 73.45 years. Male respondents accounted for 46.14% of the total sample. More than half of the older adults surveyed had an educational background of less than 6 years. Over 90% of the older adults surveyed had never heard about Stroke 1-2-0 or FAST. The awareness rate of Stroke 1-2-0 and FAST was 7.94%, with awareness of Stroke 1-2-0 being higher than that of FAST (6.01% vs. 0.43%, p < .05). None of the respondents who had heard about the two stroke educational tools could explain the utility of either tool fully. Having a background in higher education was associated with awareness of stroke educational tools independently, with an odds ratio (OR) of 10.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) of 3.7-27.4, p < .001. In addition, Wechat (OR 6.57, 95%CI 2.65-16.27, p < .001) and the community bulletin board (OR 2.95, 95%CI 1.37-6.33, p = .005) were found to be important sources for acquiring knowledge of stroke awareness tools.

CONCLUSION

The limited awareness of Stroke 1-2-0 and FAST displayed among older adults in the community indicates that we must take action to improve education on stroke among the elderly.

Clinical Characteristics, Management, and In-Hospital Outcomes in Patients With Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack in China

IMPORTANCE

Stroke represents a significant burden on the health care system of China. The Chinese Stroke Center Alliance was launched in 2015 to monitor and improve care quality and outcomes for patients with acute stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA).

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical characteristics, management, and in-hospital clinical outcomes and complications among patients with stroke or TIA in China.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This quality improvement study assessed stroke or TIA admissions to 1476 participating hospitals in the Chinese Stroke Center Alliance between August 1, 2015, and July 31, 2019.

EXPOSURES

Stroke types and calendar year.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Eleven guideline-based admission or discharge management measures and 2 summary measures: an all-or-none binary outcome and a composite score (range, 0 [nonadherence] to 1 [perfect adherence]) for adherence to evidence-based stroke and TIA care and in-hospital clinical outcomes, including death or discharge against medical advice (DAMA), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), including ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, TIA, or myocardial infarction; and in-hospital complications.

RESULTS

Of 1 006 798 patients with stroke or TIA (mean [SD] age, 65.7 [12.2] years; 383 500 [38.1%] female), 838 229 (83.3%) had an ischemic stroke, 64 929 (6.4%) had TIA, 85 705 (8.5%) had intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and 11 241 (1.1%) had subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Management measures varied by cerebrovascular event type, with the mean (SD) composite score ranging from 0.57 (0.31) in SAH to 0.83 (0.24) in TIA. Poor outcomes and complications were highest among patients with SAH (21.9%; 95% CI, 21.0%-22.8% in-hospital death or DAMA; 9.6%; 95% CI, 9.1%-10.2% MACEs; and 31.4%; 95% CI, 30.6%-32.3% in-hospital complications) and patients with ICH (17.2%; 95% CI, 16.9%-17.5% in-hospital death or DAMA; 9.3%; 95% CI, 9.1%-9.5% MACEs; and 31.3%; 95% CI, 31.0%-31.6% in-hospital complications), followed by patients with ischemic stroke (6.1%; 95% CI, 6.0%-6.1% in-hospital death or DAMA; 6.3%; 95% CI, 6.3%-6.4% MACEs; and 12.8%; 95% CI, 12.7%-12.9% in-hospital complications), and lowest in patients with TIA (5.0%; 95% CI, 4.8%-5.2% in-hospital death or DAMA; 2.4%; 95% CI, 2.3%-2.5% MACEs; and 0.8%; 95% CI, 0.7%-0.8% in-hospital complications). Temporal improvements in management measures were observed from 2015 to 2019, especially in administration of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (+60.3% relatively; 95% CI, 52.9%-70.5%), dysphagia screening (+14.7% relatively; 95% CI, 14.0%-15.6%), and use of anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation (+31.4% relatively; 95% CI, 25.7%-37.3%). Temporal improvements in in-hospital death or DAMA (-9.7% relatively; 95% CI, -9.6% to -8.5%) and complications (-27.1% relatively; 95% CI, -28.6% to -25.3) were also observed.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this quality improvement study, performance measure adherence and poor outcomes and complications varied by cerebrovascular event type; although there were substantial improvements over time, these results suggest that support for the use of evidence-based practices is needed.

Effect of Endovascular Treatment Alone vs Intravenous Alteplase Plus Endovascular Treatment on Functional Independence in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: The DEVT Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

For patients with large vessel occlusion strokes, it is unknown whether endovascular treatment alone compared with intravenous thrombolysis plus endovascular treatment (standard treatment) can achieve similar functional outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether endovascular thrombectomy alone is noninferior to intravenous alteplase followed by endovascular thrombectomy for achieving functional independence at 90 days among patients with large vessel occlusion stroke.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Multicenter, randomized, noninferiority trial conducted at 33 stroke centers in China. Patients (n = 234) were 18 years or older with proximal anterior circulation intracranial occlusion strokes within 4.5 hours from symptoms onset and eligible for intravenous thrombolysis. Enrollment took place from May 20, 2018, to May 2, 2020. Patients were enrolled and followed up for 90 days (final follow-up was July 22, 2020).

INTERVENTIONS

A total of 116 patients were randomized to the endovascular thrombectomy alone group and 118 patients to combined intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy group.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary end point was the proportion of patients achieving functional independence at 90 days (defined as score 0-2 on the modified Rankin Scale; range, 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]). The noninferiority margin was -10%. Safety outcomes included the incidence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage within 48 hours and 90-day mortality.

RESULTS

The trial was stopped early because of efficacy when 234 of a planned 970 patients had undergone randomization. All 234 patients who were randomized (mean age, 68 years; 102 women [43.6%]) completed the trial. At the 90-day follow-up, 63 patients (54.3%) in the endovascular thrombectomy alone group vs 55 (46.6%) in the combined treatment group achieved functional independence at the 90-day follow-up (difference, 7.7%, 1-sided 97.5% CI, -5.1% to ∞)P for noninferiority = .003). No significant between-group differences were detected in symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (6.1% vs 6.8%; difference, -0.8%; 95% CI, -7.1% to 5.6%) and 90-day mortality (17.2% vs 17.8%; difference, -0.5%; 95% CI, -10.3% to 9.2%).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among patients with ischemic stroke due to proximal anterior circulation occlusion within 4.5 hours from onset, endovascular treatment alone, compared with intravenous alteplase plus endovascular treatment, met the prespecified statistical threshold for noninferiority for the outcome of 90-day functional independence. These findings should be interpreted in the context of the clinical acceptability of the selected noninferiority threshold.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-IOR-17013568.

Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Treatment Times for Acute Ischemic Stroke: The Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology Multicenter Collaboration

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to an unprecedented paradigm shift in medical care. We sought to evaluate whether the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to delays in acute stroke management at comprehensive stroke centers.

METHODS

Pooled clinical data of consecutive adult stroke patients from 14 US comprehensive stroke centers (January 1, 2019, to July 31, 2020) were queried. The rate of thrombolysis for nontransferred patients within the Target: Stroke goal of 60 minutes was compared between patients admitted from March 1, 2019, and July 31, 2019 (pre-COVID-19), and March 1, 2020, to July 31, 2020 (COVID-19). The time from arrival to imaging and treatment with thrombolysis or thrombectomy, as continuous variables, were also assessed.

RESULTS

Of the 2955 patients who met inclusion criteria, 1491 were admitted during the pre-COVID-19 period and 1464 were admitted during COVID-19, 15% of whom underwent intravenous thrombolysis. Patients treated during COVID-19 were at lower odds of receiving thrombolysis within 60 minutes of arrival (odds ratio, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.38-0.98]; P=0.04), with a median delay in door-to-needle time of 4 minutes (P=0.03). The lower odds of achieving treatment in the Target: Stroke goal persisted after adjustment for all variables associated with earlier treatment (adjusted odds ratio, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.35-0.85]; P<0.01). The delay in thrombolysis appeared driven by the longer delay from imaging to bolus (median, 29 [interquartile range, 18-41] versus 22 [interquartile range, 13-37] minutes; P=0.02). There was no significant delay in door-to-groin puncture for patients who underwent thrombectomy (median, 83 [interquartile range, 63-133] versus 90 [interquartile range, 73-129] minutes; P=0.30). Delays in thrombolysis were observed in the months of June and July.

CONCLUSIONS

Evaluation for acute ischemic stroke during the COVID-19 period was associated with a small but significant delay in intravenous thrombolysis but no significant delay in thrombectomy time metrics. Taking steps to reduce delays from imaging to bolus time has the potential to attenuate this collateral effect of the pandemic.

Factors affecting prehospital delay in rural and urban patients with stroke: a prospective survey-based study in Southwest Germany

Background

Reducing prehospital delay plays an important role in increasing the thrombolysis rate in patients with stroke. Several studies have identified predictors for presentation ≤4.5 h, but few compared these predictors in urban and rural communities. We aimed to identify predictors of timely presentation to the hospital and identify possible differences between the urban and rural populations.

Methods

From January to June 2017, we conducted a prospective survey of patients with stroke admitted to an urban comprehensive stroke centre (CSC) and a rural primary care centre (PCC). Predictors were identified using binary logistical regression. Predictors and patient characteristics were then compared between the CSC and PCC.

Results

Overall, 459 patients were included in our study. We identified hesitation before seeking help, awareness of the existence of a time-window, type of admission and having talked about stroke symptoms with friends/relatives who had previously had a stroke as the strongest predictors for presentation to the emergency room ≤4.5 h. Patients admitted to the rural PCC were more hesitant to seek help and less likely to contact emergency services, even though patients had comparable knowledge pertaining to stroke care concepts.

Conclusions

Patients from rural areas were more likely to be hesitant to seek help and contacted the EMS less frequently, despite similar self-awareness of having a stroke.

Educational campaigns should focus on addressing these disparities in rural populations. Affected patients should also be encouraged to talk about their symptoms and take part in educational campaigns.

Factors Associated with Delay of Emergency Medical Services Activation in Patients with Acute Stroke

BACKGROUND

The poor prognosis of acute stroke may be largely attributed to delays in treatment. Emergency medical services (EMS) usage is associated with a significant reduction in the delay in stroke treatment. The aims of this study were to identify factors associated with the delay in EMS activation for patients with acute stroke.

METHODS

This study was conducted at 26 Fire Safety Centers in five districts of Seoul, Korea. Patients with acute stroke transferred by EMS and admitted to a tertiary referral hospital from January 2014 to December 2018 were enrolled. In this cross-sectional study, the dependent variable was the time from stroke onset to EMS activation time. Patients were divided into two groups, onset-to-alarm time ≤ 30 min and onset-to-alarm time > 30 min, and previously collected patient data were analyzed. We performed logistical regression analyses of characteristics differing significantly between groups.

RESULTS

Out of 480 patients, 197 (41%) had onset-to-alarm times > 30 min. Significant variables in the logistical analysis were alert mental state (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.77; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31-6.13), pre-stroke mRS ≥ 2 (aOR: 2.46; 95% CI: 1.26-4.95), onset occurrence at private space (aOR: 2.31; 95% CI: 1.23-4.41), recognizing symptoms between 0 and 8 am (aOR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.25-4.31), ischemic stroke (aOR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.04-3.43), and witnessed by others (aOR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.18-0.55).

CONCLUSIONS

Delay in EMS activation for acute stroke cases is possibly related to difficult situations to recognize stroke symptoms, such as alert mental state, pre-stroke mRS ≥ 2, onset occurrence at private space, recognizing symptoms between 0 and 8 am, and unwitnessed by others.

A preclinical randomized controlled study of ischemia treated with Ginkgo biloba extracts: Are complex components beneficial for treating acute stroke?

The rigorous design of preclinical experimental studies of candidate neuroprotectants for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke is crucial for the success of subsequent randomized clinical trials. The efficacy of Ginkgo biloba extracts (GBEs) in complex mixtures for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke remains unclear. In this preclinical randomized controlled trail (pRCT), the effects of a novel (n)GBE containing pinitol versus traditional (t)GBE without pinitol were evaluated on the mouse models of acute transient and permanent stroke, separately. The sample size, an important aspect of study design, was calculated based on our experimental data. Mice with ischemia that were induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) or permanent distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (pdMCAO), were treated with vehicle, nGBE, tGBE, or pinitol alone by tail-vein injection. Our results showed that nGBE significantly reduced infarct size in mice with tMCAO compared with vehicle-treated control mice. Both nGBE and tGBE significantly reduced infarct size in mice with pdMCAO compared with the vehicle-treated controls. None of the three treatments rescued weight loss or prevented the neurological deficits in either the tMCAO- or pdMCAO-model mice. These findings suggest that nGBE, which includes all of the components of tGBE and pinitol, is neuroprotective in two ischemic stroke models. Additional studies of complex GBE mixtures for stroke treatment compared to single component medications are undergoing evaluation.

Improving timely treatment with a stroke emergency map: The case of northern China

OBJECTIVE

The Chinese stroke emergency map (SEM) was implemented in 2017 to reduce prehospital and hospital delays for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients suitable for intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) thrombolysis. However, data on the time delay following the implementation of an SEM in China are limited.

METHODS

Data for suspected stroke patients from the SEM registry center of Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, from August 2017 to July 2019, patients' characteristics, thrombolysis rate, and functional outcome at 90 days were analyzed.

RESULTS

One thousand seven hundred and eighty six patients who arrived at hospitals within 4.5 hr of onset were included; 35.9% arrived by emergency medical services (EMSs), and 1,207 (67.6%) of the population received intravenous rt-PA. As a result of the SEM, the number of patients treated with rt-PA increased from 63.9% in phase 1 (August 2017 to July 2018) to 70.5% in phase 2 (August 2018 to July 2019). The median onset-to-door and onset-to-needle times decreased by five minutes (100 [IQR: 62-135] vs. 105 [IQR: 70-145], p = .005) and nine minutes (158 [IQR: 124-197] vs. 167 [IQR: 132-214], p = .001), respectively. Patients in phase 2 achieved greater independent function outcome at 90 days (79.9% vs. 72.1%; adjusted odds ratio, 2.010; 95% confidence interval, 1.444-2.798). The binary logistic regression models revealed that shorter onset-to-needle time (OR: 0.994; 95% CI: 0.992-0.997; p < .001) and lower baseline NIHSS scores (OR: 39.120; 95% CI: 23.477-65.188; p < .001 and OR: 18.324; 95% CI: 11.425-29.388; p < .001 and OR: 3.123; 95% CI: 2.044-4.773; p < .001) were significant predictors for the independent function outcome.

CONCLUSION

The implementation of a stroke emergency map is more likely to reduce prehospital delays and improve function outcomes. Future efforts should attempt to increase EMS usage.

Increased recurrent risk did not improve cerebrovascular disease survivors' response to stroke in China: a cross-sectional, community-based study

Background

Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) survivors are at a high risk of recurrent stroke. Although it is thought that survivors with higher risk of stroke respond better to stroke onset, to date, no study has been able to demonstrate that. Thus, we investigated whether the intent to call emergency medical services (EMS) increased with recurrent stroke risk among CVD survivors.

Methods

A cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted from January 2017 to May 2017, including 187,723 adults (age ≥ 40 years) across 69 administrative areas in China. A CVD survivor population of 6290 was analyzed. According to the stroke risk score based on Essen Stroke Risk Score, CVD survivors were divided into three subgroups: low (0), middle (1–3) and high (4–7) recurrent risk groups. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify the association between the stroke risk and stroke recognition, as well as stroke risk and EMS calling.

Results

The estimated stroke recognition rate in CVD survivors with low, middle, and high risk was 89.0% (503/565), 85.2% (3841/4509), and 82.5% (1001/1213), respectively, while the rate of calling EMS was 66.7% (377/565), 64.3% (2897/4509), and 69.3% (840/1213), respectively. The CVD survivors’ knowledge of recognizing stroke and intent to call EMS did not improve with recurrent stroke risk, even after adjustment for multiple socio-demographic factors.

Conclusions

Despite being at a higher risk of recurrent stroke, Chinese CVD survivors showed poor knowledge of stroke, and their intent to call EMS did not increase with recurrent stroke risk. Enhanced and stroke risk-orientated education on stroke recognition and proper response is needed for all CVD survivors.

Factors delaying intravenous thrombolytic therapy in acute ischaemic stroke: a systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND/AIMS

This review examined factors that delay thrombolysis and what management strategies are currently employed to minimise this delay, with the aim of suggesting future directions to overcome bottlenecks in treatment delivery.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. The search strategy included a combination of synonyms and controlled vocabularies from Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and EmTree covering brain ischemia, cerebrovascular accident, fibrinolytic therapy and Alteplase. The search was conducted using Medline (OVID), Embase (OVID), PubMed and Cochrane Library databases using truncations and Boolean operators. The literature search excluded review articles, trial protocols, opinion pieces and case reports. Inclusion criteria were: (1) The article directly related to thrombolysis in ischaemic stroke, and (2) The article examined at least one factor contributing to delay in thrombolytic therapy.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty-two studies were included. Pre-hospital factors resulted in the greatest delay to thrombolysis administration. In-hospital factors relating to assessment, imaging and thrombolysis administration also contributed. Long onset-to-needle times were more common in those with atypical, or less severe, symptoms, the elderly, patients from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and those living alone. Various strategies currently exist to reduce delays. Processes which have achieved the greatest improvements in time to thrombolysis are those which integrate out-of-hospital and in-hospital processes, such as the Helsinki model.

CONCLUSION

Further integrated processes are required to maximise patient benefit from thrombolysis. Expansion of community education to incorporate less common symptoms and provision of alert pagers for patients may provide further reduction in thrombolysis times.

Too Young to Have a Stroke?-a Global Health Crisis

This editorial discusses the importance of improving awareness of stroke in young individuals. Stoke can occur in any age group and is not restricted to elderly populations. Today, the average age of the first-time stroke patient continues to decrease. However, the incidence of stroke in seemingly healthy, young adults remains neglected, and stroke awareness among young patients remains poor, even in well-developed countries. Education targeting two common barriers to stroke care, identification and rescue, should be implemented for both medical professionals and the public domain. Only through education can we reduce preventable stroke-related death and damage in young patients moving forward.