Miquel Gallofré

Outcomes of a contemporary cohort of 536 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with endovascular therapy.

Background and Purpose— We sought to assess outcomes after endovascular treatment/therapy of acute ischemic stroke, overall and by subgroups, and looked for predictors of outcome. Methods— We used data from a mandatory, population-based registry that includes external monitoring of completeness, which assesses reperfusion therapies for consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke since 2011. We described outcomes overall and by subgroups (age ⩽ or >80 years; onset-to-groin puncture ⩽ or >6 hours; anterior or posterior strokes; previous IV recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator or isolated endovascular treatment/therapy; revascularization or no revascularization), and determined independent predictors of good outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ⩽2) and mortality at 3 months by multivariate modeling. Results— We analyzed 536 patients, of whom 285 received previous IV recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator. Overall, revascularization (modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction scores, 2b and 3) occurred in 73.9%, 5.6% developed symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhages, 43.3% achieved good functional outcome, and 22.2% were dead at 90 days. Adjusted comparisons by subgroups systematically favored revascularization (lower proportion of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhages and death rates and higher proportion of good outcome). Multivariate analyses confirmed the independent protective effect of revascularization. Additionally, age >80 years, stroke severity, hypertension (deleterious), atrial fibrillation, and onset-to-groin puncture ⩽6 hours (protective) also predicted good outcome, whereas lack of previous disability and anterior circulation strokes (protective) as well as and hypertension (deleterious) independently predicted mortality. Conclusions— This study reinforces the role of revascularization and time to treatment to achieve enhanced functional outcomes and identifies other clinical features that independently predict good/fatal outcome after endovascular treatment/therapy.

Quality of In-Hospital Stroke Care According to Evidence-Based Performance Measures Results From the First Audit of Stroke, Catalonia (Spain) 2005/2006

Background and Purpose— Evidence-based standards are used worldwide to determine quality of care. We assessed quality of in-hospital stroke care in all acute-care hospitals in Catalonia by determining adherence to 13 evidence-based performance measures (PMs) of process of care. Methods— Data on PMs were collected by retrospective review of medical records of consecutive stroke admissions (January to June, 2005). Compliance with PMs was calculated according to 3 hospital levels determined by their annual stroke case-load (level 1, <150 admissions/yr; level 2, 150 to 350; and level 3, >350). We defined sampling weights that represented each patient’s inverse probability of inclusion in the study sample. Sampling weights were applied to produce estimates of compliance. Factors that predicted good/bad compliance were determined by multivariate weighted logistic regression models. An external monitoring of 10% of cases recruited at each hospital was undertaken, after random selection, to assess quality of data. Results— We analyzed data from 1791 stroke cases (17% of all stroke admissions). Global interobserver agreement was 0.7. Eight PMs achieved compliances ≥75%, 4 of which were more than 90%, and the remaining showed adherences ≤62%. Analysis of compliance across hospital levels displayed some significant differences that persisted after multivariate analysis. We observed lower adherences to “early mobilization,” “assessment of rehabilitation needs,” and “prescription of anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation” in females and in the elderly. Conclusions— In 2005, in-hospital stroke care in Catalonia was heterogeneous across hospital levels. Rehabilitation-related measures showed poor compliances compared to acute care-related ones, which achieved more satisfactory adherences.

Outcomes After Direct Thrombectomy or Combined Intravenous and Endovascular Treatment Are Not Different

Background and Purpose— Whether intravenous thrombolysis adds a further benefit when given before endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is unknown. Furthermore, intravenous thrombolysis delays time to groin puncture, mainly among drip and ship patients. Methods— Using region-wide registry data, we selected cases that received direct EVT or combined intravenous thrombolysis+EVT for anterior circulation strokes between January 2011 and October 2015. Treatment effect was estimated by stratification on a propensity score. The average odds ratios for the association of treatment with good outcome and death at 3 months and symptomatic bleedings at 24 hours were calculated with the Mantel–Haenszel test statistic. Results— We included 599 direct EVT patients and 567 patients with combined treatment. Stratification through propensity score achieved balance of baseline characteristics across treatment groups. There was no association between treatment modality and good outcome (odds ratio, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.74–1.27), death (odds ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 0.74–1.54), or symptomatic bleedings (odds ratio, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.25–1.27). Conclusions— This observational study suggests that outcomes after direct EVT or combined intravenous thrombolysis+EVT are not different. If confirmed by a randomized controlled trial, it may have a significant impact on organization of stroke systems of care.

Mechanical Thrombectomy in and Outside the REVASCAT Trial: Insights From a Concurrent Population-Based Stroke Registry.

Background and Purpose— Recent trials have shown the superiority of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) over medical therapy alone in certain stroke patients with proximal arterial occlusion. Using data from the Randomized Trial of Revascularization With Solitaire FR Device Versus Best Medical Therapy in the Treatment of Acute Stroke due to Anterior Circulation Large Vessel Occlusion Presenting Within 8-Hours of Symptom Onset (REVASCAT) and a parallel reperfusion treatment registry, we sought to assess the utilization of EVT in a defined patient population, comparing the outcomes of patients treated in and outside the REVASCAT trial. Methods— SONIIA [Sistema Online d’Informació de l’Ictus Agut], a population-based, government-mandated, prospective registry of reperfusion therapies for stroke encompassing the entire population of Catalonia, was used as data source. The registry documents 5 key inclusion criteria of the REVASCAT trial: age, stroke severity, time to treatment, baseline functional status, and occlusion site. We compared procedural, safety, and functional outcomes in patients treated inside and outside the trial. Results— From November 2012 to December 2014, out of 17596 ischemic stroke patients in Catalonia (population 7.5 million), 2576 patients received reperfusion therapies (17/100000 inhabitants-year), mainly intravenous thrombolysis only (2036). From the remaining 540 treated with EVT, 103 patients (out of 206 randomized) were treated within REVASCAT and 437 outside the trial. Of these, 399 did not fulfill some of the study criteria, and 38 were trial candidates (8 treated at REVASCAT centers and 30 at 2 non-REVASCAT centers). The majority of procedural, safety, and functional outcomes were similar in patients treated with EVT within and outside REVASCAT. Conclusions— REVASCAT enrolled nearly all eligible patients representing one third of all patients treated with EVT. Patients treated with EVT within and outside REVASCAT had similar outcomes, reinforcing the therapeutic value of EVT. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01692379.

Access to Endovascular Treatment in Remote Areas

Background and Purpose— Since demonstration of the benefit of endovascular treatment (EVT) in acute ischemic stroke patients with proximal arterial occlusion, stroke care systems need to be reorganized to deliver EVT in a timely and equitable way. We analyzed differences in the access to EVT by geographical areas in Catalonia, a territory with a highly decentralized stroke model. Methods— We studied 965 patients treated with EVT from a prospective multicenter population-based registry of stroke patients treated with reperfusion therapies in Catalonia, Spain (SONIIA). Three different areas were defined: (A) health areas primarily covered by Comprehensive Stroke Centers, (B) areas primarily covered by local stroke centers located less than hour away from a Comprehensive Stroke Center, and (C) areas primarily covered by local stroke centers located more than hour away from a Comprehensive Stroke Center. We compared the number of EVT×100 000 inhabitants/year and time from stroke onset to groin puncture between groups. Results— Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Throughout the study period, there were significant differences in the population rates of EVT across geographical areas. EVT rates by 100 000 in 2015 were 10.5 in A area, 3.7 in B, and 2.7 in C. Time from symptom onset to groin puncture was 82 minutes longer in group B (312 minutes [245–435]) and 120 minutes longer in group C (350 minutes [284–408]) compared with group A (230 minutes [160–407]; P<0.001). Conclusions— Accessibility to EVT from remote areas is hampered by lower rate and longer time to treatment compared with areas covered directly by Comprehensive Stroke Centers.

Noncompliance With Certain Quality Indicators Is Associated With Risk-Adjusted Mortality After Stroke

Background and Purpose— To investigate the 30-day and 12-month mortality risks among hospitalized stroke patients according to compliance with guideline-based process indicators. Methods— We used data from the Second Stroke Audit and the Mortality Register of Catalonia (Spain). The audit retrospectively explored quality of stroke care based on compliance with indicators among patients discharged from all public hospitals in Catalonia in 2007; they were identified and selected through a pre-established sampling method. The magnitude of the independent association of each indicator with 30-day and 12-month mortality was assessed using logistic regression with generalized estimating equations to account for clustering of patients within hospitals. Generalized estimating equations modeling was initially restricted to patients alive >72 hours poststroke to control for confounding by severity. Analyses were also run in 3 other samples (all patients, patients alive >7 days, and patients alive >14 days). Results— Of 1767 stroke admissions in the Second Stroke Audit, 1697 patients survived >72 hours poststroke. Within this sample, the adjusted 30-day mortality risk was negatively associated with nonadherence to different indicators, of which only antithrombotics at discharge (OR, 4.3; 95% CI, 1.72–10.78) remained significant in all data sets. At 12 months, the adjusted mortality risk was negatively associated with management of hypertension (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.22–2.86) and antithrombotics at discharge (OR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.41–5.54). Both remained unchanged across different samples. Conclusions— Assessing the impact of quality of stroke care on mortality is complex and is hampered by residual confounding, particularly in the short-term. Nevertheless, this study suggests that at least a few indicators should be used to monitor quality of stroke services.

Hospital-at-home integrated care programme for older patients with orthopaedic conditions: Early community reintegration maximising physical function

OBJECTIVE Older citizens with orthopaedic conditions need specialised care for the facilitation of early community reintegration and restitution of physical function. We introduced a new community care programme as an alternative to usual hospital rehabilitation for orthopaedic patients. STUDY DESIGN This was an observational study of a cohort of older orthopaedic patients attending a hospital-at-home integrated care programme (HHU), compared with a contemporary cohort of users of a geriatric rehabilitation unit (GRU) in the urban area of Badalona, Catalonia, Spain. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES Functional gain at discharge was measured using the Barthel Index (BI). Other outcomes were: length of intervention (days), rehabilitation efficiency and discharge destination. RESULTS Over the 2 years of the study we assessed 270 patients (69 at HHU; 201 at GRU). We found no significant differences in baseline characteristics between HHU and GRU groups-mean (IQR) or % age 83 (79-87) vs. 84 (79-88), cognitive impairment 27.5% vs. 24.9%, functional decline 40 (31-48) vs. 43 (32-58). Overall, we found no statistically significant differences between HHU and GRU groups on functional gain: 35 (22-45) vs. 32 (18-46), and discharge home 85.5% vs. 86.1%. Length of intervention was shorter in the HHU group, 43 (32-56) vs. 57 (44-81); p<0.01, for hip fracture patients. In a multivariate analysis, the adjusted mean difference in rehabilitation efficiency between HHU and GRU groups in the hip fracture subgroup was 0.27 (0.09 to 0.46); p=0.004. CONCLUSIONS This hospital-at-home service obtained similar clinical results to the usual hospital-based rehabilitation care, and for hip fracture patients attending that service, rehabilitation efficiency was better.

Evaluating the quality of in-hospital stroke care, using an opportunity-based composite measure: a multilevel approach

License. The full terms of the License are available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. Permissions beyond the scope of the License are administered by Dove Medical Press Limited. Information on how to request permission may be found at: http://www.dovepress.com/permissions.php Clinical Audit 2014:6 11–20 Clinical Audit Dovepress

Functional Outcome After Primary Endovascular Therapy or IV Thrombolysis Alone for Stroke. An Observational, Comparative Effectiveness Study

Background: Among the acute ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusions and contraindications for the use of IV thrombolysis, mainly on oral anticoagulation or presenting too late, primary endovascular therapy is often performed as an alternative to the standard therapy even though evidence supporting the use of endovascular reperfusion therapies is not yet established. Using different statistical approaches, we compared the functional independence rates at 3 months among patients undergoing primary endovascular therapy and patients treated only with IV thrombolysis. Methods: We used data from a prospective, government-mandated and externally audited registry of reperfusion therapies for ischemic stroke (January 2011 to November 2012). Patients were selected if treated with either IV thrombolysis alone (n = 1,582) or primary endovascular thrombectomy (n = 250). A series of exclusions were made to homogenize the clinical characteristics among the two groups. We then carried out multivariate logistic regression and propensity score matching analyses on the final study sample (n = 1,179) to compare functional independence at 3 months, as measured by the modified Rankin scale scores 0-2, between the two groups. Results: The unadjusted likelihood of good outcome was poorer among the endovascular group (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.47-1.0). After adjustment, no differences by treatment modality were seen (OR: 1.51; 95% CI: 0.93-2.43 for primary endovascular therapy). Patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy within 180-270 min (OR: 2.89; 95% CI: 1.17-7.15) and patients with severe strokes (OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.02-3.35) did better than their intravenous thrombolysis counterparts. The propensity score-matched analyses with and without adjustment by additional covariates showed that endovascular thrombectomy was as effective as intravenous thrombolysis alone in achieving functional independence (OR for unadjusted propensity score matched: 1.35; 95% CI: 0.9-2.02, OR for adjusted propensity score matched: 1.45; 95% CI: 0.91-2.32). Conclusion: This comparative effectiveness study shows that in ischemic stroke patients with contraindications for IV thrombolysis, primary endovascular treatment might be an alternative therapy at least as effective as IV thrombolysis alone. Randomized controlled trials are urgently needed.

Geographic dissemination of endovascular stroke thrombectomy in Catalonia within the 2011–2015 period

Introduction Endovascular thrombectomy was recently established as a new standard of care in acute ischemic stroke patients with large artery occlusions. Using small area health statistics, we sought to assess dissemination of endovascular thrombectomy in Catalonia throughout the period 2011–2015. Patients and methods We used registry data to identify all endovascular thrombectomies for acute ischemic stroke performed in Catalonia within the study period. The SONIIA registry is a government-mandated, population-based and externally audited data base that includes all reperfusion therapies for acute ischemic stroke. We linked endovascular thrombectomy cases identified in the registry with the Central Registry of the Catalan Public Health Insurance to obtain the primary care service area of residence for each treated patient, age and sex. We calculated age-sex standardized endovascular thrombectomy rates over time according to different territorial segmentation patterns (metropolitan/provincial rings and primary care service areas). Results Region-wide age-sex standardized endovascular thrombectomy rates increased significantly from 3.9 × 100,000 (95% confidence interval: 3.4–4.4) in 2011 to 6.8 × 100,000 (95% confidence interval: 6.2–7.6) in 2015. Such increase occurred in inner and outer metropolitan rings as well as provinces although highest endovascular thrombectomy rates were persistently seen in the inner metropolitan area. Changes in endovascular thrombectomy access across primary care service areas over time were more subtle, but there was a rather generalized increase of standardized endovascular thrombectomy rates. Discussion This study demonstrates temporal and territorial dissemination of access to endovascular thrombectomy in Catalonia over a 5-year period although variation remains at the completion of the study. Conclusion Mapping of endovascular thrombectomy is essential to assess equity and propose actions for access dissemination.