Racial disparities in long-term stroke outcomes: evidence from nationwide epidemiologic studies.

Abstract

It is often said that stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, especially in older adults.1 The increasing size of the older adult population and the higher percentage of stroke patients surviving the acute hospitalization stage predict a doubling of the number of stroke survivors living with disabilities in the community over the next few decades.1,2 Numerous studies have identified race or ethnic disparities in stroke incidence, mortality, and functional outcomes, with African Americans often having worse outcomes, on average, when compared to white stroke survivors.3,4 Some investigations have also reported sex disparities in stroke outcomes.4,5 Many research programs seek to explain the underlying mechanisms that might explain such race and sex differences in stroke risk and stroke outcome.