Outcomes of patients with pre-existing disability managed by mobile stroke units: A sub-analysis of the BEST-MSU study

Bianca O. Pirlog, Asha P. Jacob, Suja S. Rajan, Jose Miguel Yamal, Stephanie A. Parker, Mengxi Wang, Ritvij Bowry, Alexandra Czap, Patti L. Bratina, Michael O. Gonzalez, Noopur Singh, Jinhao Zou, Nicole R. Gonzales, William J. Jones, Anne W. Alexandrov, Andrei V. Alexandrov, Babak B. Navi, May Nour, Ilana Spokoyny, Jason MackeyKelly Silnes, Matthew E. Fink, Carla Pisarro Sherman, Josh Willey, Jeffrey L. Saver, Joey English, Nobl Barazangi, David Ornelas, Jay Volpi, Chethan PV Rao, Laura Griffin, David Persse, James C. Grotta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Few data exist on acute stroke treatment in patients with pre-existing disability (PD) since they are usually excluded from clinical trials. A recent trial of mobile stroke units (MSUs) demonstrated faster treatment and improved outcomes, and included PD patients. Aim: To determine outcomes with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), and benefit of MSU versus management by emergency medical services (EMS), for PD patients. Methods: Primary outcomes were utility-weighted modified Rankin Scale (uw-mRS). Linear and logistic regression models compared outcomes in patients with versus without PD, and PD patients treated by MSU versus standard management by EMS. Time metrics, safety, quality of life, and health-care utilization were compared. Results: Of the 1047 tPA-eligible ischemic stroke patients, 254 were with PD (baseline mRS 2–5) and 793 were without PD (baseline mRS 0–1). Although PD patients had worse 90-day uw-mRS, higher mortality, more health-care utilization, and worse quality of life than non-disabled patients, 53% returned to at least their baseline mRS, those treated faster had better outcome, and there was no increased bleeding risk. Comparing PD patients treated by MSU versus EMS, 90-day uw-mRS was 0.42 versus 0.36 (p = 0.07) and 57% versus 46% returned to at least their baseline mRS. There was no interaction between disability status and MSU versus EMS group assignment (p = 0.67) for 90-day uw-mRS. Conclusion: PD did not prevent the benefit of faster treatment with tPA in the BEST-MSU study. Our data support inclusion of PD patients in the MSU management paradigm.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1209-1218
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal of Stroke
Volume18
Issue number10
Early online dateJul 5 2023
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2023

Keywords

  • Acute stroke therapy
  • clinical trial
  • ischemic stroke
  • mobile stroke unit
  • pre-existing disability
  • tPA
  • Humans
  • Fibrinolytic Agents/therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Stroke/drug therapy
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator/therapeutic use
  • Quality of Life
  • Emergency Medical Services

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Neurology

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