Black Americans have worse stroke outcome compared with non-Hispanic whites

Abstract

IntroductionWe studied racial differences in post-stroke outcomes using a prospective, population-based cohort of stroke survivors as part of the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi (BASIC) project. MethodsNeurologic (NIHSS, range of 0–42, higher scores are worse), functional (ADLs/IADLs, range 1–4, higher scores are worse), and cognitive (3MSE, range 0–100, higher scores are better) outcomes were measured 90 days after stroke. Cox proportional hazards and negative binomial linear regression models were used to examine the associations between race and 90-day all-cause mortality and NIHSS, respectively, whereas linear regression was used for ADLs/IADLs and 3MSE scores. Covariates included demographics, initial NIHSS, comorbidities, prior stroke history, tPA treatment status, pre-stroke disability, and pre-stroke cognition. The mortality model was also adjusted for DNR status. ResultsAt 90 days post-stroke, Black American individuals (BAs) (n = 122) had a median (IQR) NIHSS of 2 (1,6) compared to NIHSS of 1 (0,3) in non-Hispanic White American individuals (NHWs) (n = 795). BAs had a median (IQR) ADL/IADL score of 2.41 (1.50, 3.39) compared to 2.00 (1.27, 2.95) in NHWs. BAs scored a median of 84 (75, 92) on the 3MSE compared to NHWs’ score of 91.5 (83, 96). Death occurred in 23 (8%) of BAs and 268 (15%) of NHWs within 90 days among those who participated in baseline. After adjustment for covariates, functional outcomes at 90 days were worse in BAs compared to NHWs, with 15.8% (95% CI=5.2, 26.4) greater limitations in ADLs/IADLs and 43.9% (95% CI=12.0, 84.9) greater severity of stroke symptoms. Cognition at 90 days was 6.5% (95% CI=2.4, 10.6) lower in BAs compared to NHWs. BAs had a 35.4% lower (95% CI=-9.8, 61.9) hazard rate of mortality than NHWs. ConclusionsIn this prospective, population-based community sample, BAs had worse neurologic, functional and cognitive outcomes at 90 days compared to NHWs. Future research should investigate how social determinants of health including structural racism, neighborhood factors and access to preventive and recovery services influences these racial disparities.