Veterans Administration Acute Stroke (VASt) Study: lack of race/ethnic-based differences in utilization of stroke-related procedures or services.
OBJECTIVE
Race/ethnic-based disparities in the utilization of health-related services have been reported. Data collected as part of the Veterans Administration Acute Stroke Study (VASt) were analyzed to determine whether similar differences were present in patients admitted to Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals with acute ischemic stroke.


METHODS
VASt prospectively identified stroke patients admitted to 9 geographically separated VA hospitals between April 1995 and March 1997. Demographic characteristics and all inpatient diagnostic tests/procedures were recorded. Frequencies were compared with chi2 tests.


RESULTS
Of 1073 enrolled patients, 775 (white, n=520; nonwhite, n=255, including 226 blacks and 28 Hispanic-Americans) with ischemic stroke were admitted from home. Mean ages (71.0+/-0.6 versus 71.9+/-0.4 years; P=0.25) and Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) stroke types (atherothrombotic, 12.9% versus 13.3%; cardioembolic, 16.5% versus 18.0%; lacunar, 26.4% versus 27.1%; other, 1.4% versus 2.0%; unclassified, 42.9% versus 39.6%; P=0.89) for whites versus nonwhites were similar. There were no race/ethnic-based differences in the utilization of brain CT (91.0% versus 92.2%; P=0.58), MRI (36.2% versus 41.6%; P=0.14), transthoracic (52.5% versus 53.7%; P=0.75) or transesophageal echocardiography (10.2% versus 10.6%; P=0.86), 24-hour ECG (3.3% versus 1.6%; P=0.17), carotid ultrasound (64.0% versus 62.0%; P=0.57), carotid endarterectomy (1.5% versus 0.8%; P=0.38), rehabilitation evaluations (71.0% versus 76.5%; P=0.11), speech therapy (9.6% versus 12.6%; P=0.21), recreational therapy (3.1% versus 2.0%; P=0.37), or occupational therapy (16.0% versus 19.6%; P=0.20) for whites versus nonwhites, respectively. Angiography was performed less frequently (3.1% versus 8.5%; P=0.01) and ECG more frequently (81.6% versus 73.5%; P=0.01) in nonwhites. The proportions of patients discharged functionally independent were also similar (52% of whites and 50% of nonwhites had discharge Rankin Scale scores of 0, 1, or 2; P=0.63).


CONCLUSIONS
Aside from cerebral angiography and ECG, there were no race/ethnic-based disparities in the utilization of a variety of stroke-related procedures and services. The difference in the use of angiography is unlikely to be related to a difference in screening for carotid endarterectomy because there was no difference in the frequency of carotid ultrasonography. The reason ECG was obtained more frequently in nonwhites is uncertain.
Goldstein
Larry B
LB
Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA. golds004@mc.duke.edu
Matchar
David B
DB
Hoff-Lindquist
Jennifer
J
Samsa
Gregory P
GP
Horner
Ronnie D
RD
D000208:Acute Disease; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D013812:Therapeutics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data