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. 2022 Jul;19(7):854-865.
doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2022.03.008. Epub 2022 Apr 25.

Updated Trends, Disparities, and Clinical Impact of Neuroimaging Utilization in Ischemic Stroke in the Medicare Population: 2012 to 2019

Jason J Wang  1 , Casey E Pelzl  2 , Artem Boltyenkov  3 , Jeffrey M Katz  4 , Jennifer Hemingway  5 , Eric W Christensen  6 , Elizabeth Rula  7 , Pina C Sanelli  8
Affiliations

Updated Trends, Disparities, and Clinical Impact of Neuroimaging Utilization in Ischemic Stroke in the Medicare Population: 2012 to 2019

Jason J Wang et al. J Am Coll Radiol. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to update trends, investigate sociodemographic disparities, and evaluate the impact on mortality of stroke neuroimaging across the United States from 2012 to 2019.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study using CMS Medicare 5% Research Identifiable Files, representing consecutive ischemic stroke emergency department or hospitalized patients aged ≥65 years. A total of 85,547 stroke episodes with demographic and clinical information were analyzed using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests and logistic regression. Outcome measures were neuroimaging (CT angiography [CTA], CT perfusion [CTP], MRI, MR angiography [MRA]) utilization, acute treatment (endovascular thrombectomy [EVT] and intravenous thrombolysis [IVT]), and mortality while in the hospital and at 30 days and 1 year post discharge.

Results: Significantly increasing utilization trends for CTA (250%), CTP (428%) and MRI (18%), and a decreasing trend for MRA (-33%) were observed from 2012 to 2019 (P < .0001). Controlling for covariates in the logistic regression models, CTA and CTP were significantly associated with higher EVT and IVT utilization. Although CTA, MRI, and MRA were associated with lower mortality, CTP was associated with higher mortality post discharge. Less neuroimaging was performed in rural patients; older patients (≥80 years) had lower utilization of CTA, MRI, and MRA; female patients had lower rates of CTA; and Black patients had lower utilization of CTA and CTP.

Conclusions: CTA and CTP utilization increased in the Medicare ischemic stroke population from 2012 to 2019 and both were associated with greater EVT and IVT use. However, disparities exist in neuroimaging utilization across all demographic groups, and further understanding of the root causes of these disparities will be crucial to achieving equity in stroke care.

Keywords: Angiography; ischemic stroke; neuroimaging; perfusion; trend analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Trends in the neuroimaging utilization, treatment methodology, and mortality for ischemic stroke in Medicare sample from 2012-2019
CTA - computed tomography angiography; CTP - CT perfusion; MRI - magnetic resonance imaging; MRA - magnetic resonance angiography
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Trends in the neuroimaging utilization rates for CTA, CTP, MRI, and MRA stratified by patient characteristic for ischemic stroke in Medicare sample from 2012-2019
CTA - computed tomography angiography; CTP - CT perfusion; MRI - magnetic resonance imaging; MRA - MR angiography; MHI - median household income
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Associations between neuroimaging and treatment utilization for ischemic stroke in Medicare sample from 2012-2019
IVT - intravenous thrombolysis; EVT - endovascular therapy; CTA - computed tomography angiography; CTP - CT perfusion; MRI - magnetic resonance imaging; MRA - magnetic resonance angiography
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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