Changes Over Time in Short-Term Stroke Outcomes by Race-Ethnicity.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to quantify trends (2008-2019) in stroke outcomes by race-ethnicity.

METHODS

Patients with ischemic stroke from a population-based study were interviewed at 90 days to assess outcomes. Linear regression with multiple imputation and inverse probability weighting was used to model trends.

RESULTS

The median age was 66 years (n = 1,449); 61% were Mexican American (MA). QOL remained stable with no race-ethnic difference in trends ( for time*race-ethnicity interaction = 0.81). Neurologic outcomes improved for MA ( < 0.01) but not non-Hispanic White (NHW) persons with stroke ( = 0.23) with no race-ethnic difference in trends ( for interaction = 0.23). For functional outcomes, trends were stable and then improved in MA persons with stroke ( for interaction = 0.01), whereas trends were stable in NHW persons with stroke ( = 0.52). For cognitive outcomes, there was little change in NHW persons with stroke ( = 0.50); in MA persons with stroke, there was improvement followed by decline and then improvement ( = 0.03). No race-ethnic differences in trends in functional ( for interaction = 0.51) or cognitive ( for interaction = 0.21) outcomes were noted.

DISCUSSION

Outcome improvements were noted in MA but not NHW persons with stroke; race-ethnic differences were not present in 2019. Understanding factors contributing to favorable trends in MA persons may be informative for improving outcomes in all persons.