Equality of access to "fast-track" stroke services in an older, socio-economically deprived Scottish population.
OBJECTIVE
Unequal access to specialist stroke services may contribute to the disproportionate stroke burden in certain populations. We evaluated the relationship between access to TIA services, deprivation and age.


METHODS
We prospectively recorded referral pattern data on consecutive TIA service patients. Socio-economic deprivation was derived from postcode and census data. Associations were described using Kruskal-Wallis statistics.


RESULTS
Of 3,462 patients assessed, there was no association between time to clinic referral or attendance and increasing deprivation or age.


CONCLUSIONS
Inequality of access to TIA services for older, deprived patients was not evident. However, delay to assessment and prevalence of risk factors was substantial for all patients.
Quinn
T J
TJ
Division of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK. Tjq1t@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
Dawson
J
J
Walters
M R
MR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult