Minority patients were more likely to undergo the four life-sustaining procedures – gastrostomy (feeding tube insertion), tracheostomy, mechanical ventilation and hermicraniectomy (to relieve pressure on the brain) – after stroke than white patients, according to a research letter published online by JAMA Neurology. But the odds of undergoing intravenous thrombolysis and carotid revascularization – those procedures with curative intent – were lower for minority patients, according to the results. The authors note clinical factors, such as stroke severity, stroke location and time to presentation, not captured in the data could partially explain their results. Another stroke-related study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that acute stroke treatment at a primary stroke center is associated with a seven-day and 30-day survival benefit compared to a non-certified center. The study authors suggest that admission to a PSC was associated with a 1.8% lower seven-day and 30-day death rate, although traveling at least 90 minutes to a PSC appears to offset any benefit of care there. 

Related News Articles

Headline
The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island Sept. 30 denied motions from AbbVie and Novartis seeking a preliminary injunction against the state’s…
Headline
AHA’s latest social media toolkit for spreading awareness of the flu focuses on the availability of the flu vaccine for at-risk, vulnerable populations as flu…
Headline
An analysis published Sept. 30 by KFF found that Health Insurance Marketplace enrollees who currently benefit from the enhanced premium tax credits would pay…
Headline
The federal government shut down Oct. 1 following a failed Senate vote on the House-passed continuing resolution to fund the government by midnight Sept. 30.…
Headline
The Food and Drug Administration today issued a request for public comment on a series of questions regarding current approaches to evaluating artificial…
Headline
President Trump today announced the first agreement with a major pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, to bring American drug prices in line with the lowest paid by…