Regional differences in acute stroke admission and thrombolysis rates in the German federal state of Hesse.

BACKGROUND

Using data from the mandatory quality assurance program for stroke care in Hesse, we analyze regional differences in thrombolysis rates and infer some ways in which care can be improved.

METHODS

We identified 7707 patients with acute ischemic stroke who were admitted to hospital within 3 hours of symptom onset in 2007 and 2008, and we determined the local thrombolysis rate district by district. In order to exclude the possibility that the observed local differences in thrombolysis rates might be accounted for, in large part, by off-label thrombolysis procedures, we further narrowed down the subgroup of patients who underwent thrombolysis to the 1108 patients admitted within 2 hours of symptom onset. We also analyzed the local thrombolysis rates for patients who were primarily referred to stroke units.

RESULTS

The overall thrombolysis rate among patients admitted within 3 hours of symptom onset was 19%, varying locally from 6% to 35%. Among patients admitted within 2 hours of symptom onset, the local thrombolysis rate ranged from 13% to 85%. Even in patients primarily referred to stroke units, the local thrombolysis rate ranged from 8% to 44% in the 3-hour group and from 16% to 62% in the 2-hour group.

CONCLUSION

Local thrombolysis rates vary unexpectedly widely across the state of Hesse. The care of patients with acute stroke after they reach the hospital urgently needs critical reappraisal and improvement.