Abstract 162: Processes of Care that are Associated With Reduced Risk of Recurrent Vascular Events Among Patients With a Transient Ischemic Attack and Minor Stroke

Abstract

Background: Interventions that emphasize early evaluation and management of patients with TIA and minor stroke have demonstrated reductions in recurrent vascular events. Objective: To identify processes of care that were associated with reduced risk of recurrent vascular events after TIA or minor stroke. Methods: We identified patients with a TIA or minor stroke cared for in a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Emergency Department or inpatient ward (fiscal year 2011). Recurrent vascular events included ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmia or death within 90-days and 1-year of discharge. 32 processes of care were examined. Defect-free care was assessed for a set of 6 processes (brain imaging, carotid artery imaging, hypertension management, high or moderate potency statin, antithrombotics, and anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation); patients who received all processes for which they were eligible passed the defect-free measure. Multivariable logistic regression with a random facility effect was used to model recurrent events. Clinically important potential confounders were forced into all models; other significant covariates were identified by backward selection. Results: Among 8107 patients, 14.0% had a recurrent vascular event within 90-days; 26.5% within 1-year. Three processes were associated with lower 90-day events after adjustment for 24 covariates: carotid artery imaging (adjusted OR, 0.74 [95%CI, 0.65-0.85], lipid measurement (0.80 [0.68-0.94]), and anticoagulation quality for atrial fibrillation (0.56 [0.35-0.88]). Three processes were associated with reduced 1-year events: carotid artery imaging (0.80 [0.71-0.89]), lipid measurement (0.85 [0.75-0.97]), and timely carotid stenosis intervention (0.49 [0.26-0.94]). The defect-free care rate, observed in 17.4%, was also associated with a reduction in recurrent vascular event risk both within 90-days (0.78 [0.65-0.93]) and 1-year (0.82 [0.71-0.94]). Conclusions: The delivery of a comprehensive set of clinical processes was associated with clinically meaningful reductions in short and longer-term risk of recurrent vascular events. Widespread implementation of these processes should be strongly considered.