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Observational Study
. 2019 Apr;50(4):923-930.
doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.118.024091.

Effect of Interhospital Transfer on Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Esmee Venema  1   2 , Adrien E Groot  3 , Hester F Lingsma  1 , Wouter Hinsenveld  4 , Kilian M Treurniet  5 , Vicky Chalos  1   2   6 , Sanne M Zinkstok  3   7 , Maxim J H L Mulder  2 , Inger R de Ridder  4 , Henk A Marquering  8 , Wouter J Schonewille  9 , Marieke J H Wermer  10 , Charles B L M Majoie  5 , Yvo B W E M Roos  3 , Diederik W J Dippel  2 , Jonathan M Coutinho  3 , Bob Roozenbeek  2   6
Affiliations
Observational Study

Effect of Interhospital Transfer on Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Esmee Venema et al. Stroke. 2019 Apr.

Abstract

Background and Purpose- To assess the effect of inter-hospital transfer on time to treatment and functional outcome after endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke, we compared patients transferred from a primary stroke center to patients directly admitted to an intervention center in a large nationwide registry. Methods- MR CLEAN (Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Netherlands) Registry is an ongoing, prospective, observational study in all centers that perform EVT in the Netherlands. We included adult patients with an acute anterior circulation stroke who received EVT between March 2014 to June 2016. Primary outcome was time from arrival at the first hospital to arterial groin puncture. Secondary outcomes included the 90-day modified Rankin Scale score and functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2). Results- In total 821/1526 patients, (54%) were transferred from a primary stroke center. Transferred patients less often had prestroke disability (227/800 [28%] versus 255/699 [36%]; P=0.02) and more often received intravenous thrombolytics (659/819 [81%] versus 511/704 [73%]; P<0.01). Time from first presentation to groin puncture was longer for transferred patients (164 versus 104 minutes; P<0.01, adjusted delay 57 minutes [95% CI, 51-62]). Transferred patients had worse functional outcome (adjusted common OR, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.62-0.90]) and less often achieved functional independence (244/720 [34%] versus 289/681 [42%], absolute risk difference -8.5% [95% CI, -8.7 to -8.3]). Conclusions- Interhospital transfer of patients with acute ischemic stroke is associated with delay of EVT and worse outcomes in routine clinical practice, even in a country where between-center distances are short. Direct transportation of patients potentially eligible for EVT to an intervention center may improve functional outcome.

Keywords: patient transfer; registries; stroke; thrombectomy; time to treatment.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Map of the Netherlands including primary stroke centers, intervention centers, and population density.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Flowchart of patient selection. EVT indicates endovascular treatment.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Functional outcome measured with the modified Rankin Scale score at 90 days. Functional outcome for patients presented directly in intervention center vs transferred from a primary stroke center (125 missing values). Transferred patients had worse functional outcomes than directly presented patients (adjusted common odds ratio [acOR] 0.75 [95% CI, 0.62–0.90]).
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References

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