Abstract P13: Faster Treatment Speed is Not Associated With Bleeds: Intravenous Alteplase Treatment in the Ultra-Early Time Window is Safe

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that faster Door to Needle (DTN) treatment times are associated with better outcomes for acute ischemic stroke patients. With the continued push for faster times, we aimed to determine if DTN treatment times in the 30- vs 45-minute time window yielded statistically significant differences in outcomes or complications. Data obtained from a multi-state stroke registry included acute ischemic stroke patients ≥18 years of age discharged between January 2017 and April 2020, and treated with IV alteplase with DTN times between 25-30 or 40-45 minutes. Outcomes were 90-day Modified Rankin Score (mRS) (0-2 vs 3-6), discharge disposition [home or inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) vs other location], complications (any treatment-related complication vs none), and hospital length of stay (LOS). Patients with a documented reason for delay or who received thrombectomy were excluded. Outcomes of patients with 25- to 30-minute DTN times were compared to those with 40- to 45-minute DTN times using generalized linear models and multiple linear regression, adjusting for admission NIHSS, age, gender, race/ethnicity, and medical history. Compared to the 20-25 minute group, patients treated in the 40-45 minute window had higher odds of a documented 90-day mRS of 3 or more (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)=1.19, p=0.253, n=201 ) and treatment-related complication (AOR=1.35, p=0.569) and lower odds of discharge to home or IRF (AOR=0.846, p=0.359). There was little difference in LOS (β=-0.008, p=0.847). None of the outcomes reached statistical significance. Administering alteplase in the 25- to 30-minute window is safe and did not result in an increase in bleeding complications. Although faster treatment times trended toward better outcomes, there was no statistically significant difference between the 25-30 and 40-45 minute DTN treatment times.