A study suggests that women may be less likely than men to get timely care for emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO) ischemic strokes.
An ELVO is the deadliest type of stroke and is caused by a large clot blocking a large vessel and cutting off significant blood flow to the brain.
Researchers reviewed 1.5 years of data from 10 stroke centres in the US to see which patients experiencing an ELVO were routed directly to comprehensive stroke centres to receive neuroendovascular stroke surgery (or thrombectomy). These are small minimally invasive procedures that use catheters to reopen blocked arteries in the brain.
Level 1 stroke centres have the most comprehensive services including a specially trained neuro-interventional care team that is always available to treat strokes. In comparison, primary stroke centres may not have the same round the clock surgery capability or an intensive care unit for patients. They may need to transfer complex patients to Level 1 stroke centres.
The study took 490 patients suffering from ELVO of which, 46 per cent were women. Stroke severity, travel distances to a Level 1 stroke centre and comorbidities were similar between women and men. Although the women in the study were older with a median age of 73 compared to 65.
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The researchers found that nearly 90 per cent of male patients with ELVO were routed directly to Level 1 stroke centres, there were significantly lower female rates. After taking into account the differences in age, stroke type, travel distance and other factors, women with ELVO were 11 per cent less likely to be taken to a Level 1 stroke centre.
Sunil Sheth, lead author on the study and assistant professor of neurology at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, said: “It’s essential that all patients with emergent large vessel occlusion ischemic strokes receive urgent care for this condition in the most appropriate setting.
“At the state and regional levels around the nation, we have built pre-hospital routing programs to ensure that patients with this type of stroke are taken directly to the appropriate hospitals. This study shows that we need to work harder to bridge the gender health care gap and ensure that all patients who need stroke surgery are routed to the right hospital for the best chance of survival, recovery and independence.”
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