More research needed to explore potential racial, gender and socioeconomic differences in stroke

More research needed to explore potential racial, gender and socioeconomic differences in stroke treatment and recovery

NASHVILLE — Research presented today at the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery’s (SNIS) 22nd Annual Meeting included three studies that explored the differences in treatment and recovery options for patients across racial, gender and socioeconomic lines in a large telestroke network in Pennsylvania and a university medical center in Rhode Island.

Telestroke treatment aims to improve care for people with stroke symptoms who live far from comprehensive stroke centers — hospitals that offer a full spectrum of neuroendovascular care, with access to thrombectomy always available. This minimally invasive procedure uses a catheter to reopen blocked brain arteries in an ischemic large vessel occlusion, the most common type of stroke. Access to more specialized care such as this can improve a person’s chance of recovery after stroke, and telestroke programs help expand neurointerventionalists’ reach by allowing patients in rural areas to receive a virtual diagnosis and treatment recommendation at a hospital closer to home. This kind of care may help address geographic and racial disparities in stroke treatment by bringing services closer to people in historically underserved communities.

Continue Reading