Race and insurance status appear to influence whether patients receive stroke treatment with thrombolysis and endovascular therapy (EVT), new research shows.
In a study of data from three states, investigators found that black patients were 18% to 35% less likely to receive thrombolysis and 31% less likely to receive EVT than their white counterparts. In addition, patients insured through Medicare or Medicaid were less likely to receive these treatments, irrespective of race.
"The most pressing need is to look at state-level features that account for the presence or absence of racial disparities in order to develop effective policies and programs at the state level," said study investigator Alison Herman, a postgraduate research associate at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, who presented the findings.
The results were released at the virtual American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2021 Annual Meeting.
A State-Level Look
Previous nationwide research suggests racial and ethnic disparities in the use of thrombolysis and EVT for ischemic stroke, but because the United States population is heterogeneous, and demographics vary among states, it is unlikely that racial disparities are consistent among states, Herman said.
"National-level work is insufficient when it comes to looking at racial disparities and how to address them," she added.
