Post-Acute Stroke Services Research Articles

Abstract P388: Higher Social Vulnerability Was Associated With Less Community-Based Rehabilitation Utilization After Stroke

Background: Timely rehabilitation care significantly improves function and mobility after stroke, but barriers exist in access and utilization. The impact of neighborhood social determinants of health is not fully understood. Our study aims to estimate the association between Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), a measure of a community's need for support, and post-stroke rehabilitation utilization. Methods: This study is an observational, secondary analysis of the COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services study, a pragmatic trial conducted in 41 North Carolina hospitals from 2016-2019. This analysis included 4765 individuals (51.2% female; 74.8% Whites; mean age 69.9) discharged directly home after stroke and linked to administrative claims. Utilization of physical or occupational therapy was obtained from outpatient, carrier file and home health claims. Geocoded participant addresses were linked to 2018 summary SVI percentile ranking and its four sub-domains at the Census tract level. Generalized estimation equations with cluster of Census tract and hospital were used to estimate the association between quintiles of SVIs and incidence proportion of rehabilitation use within 30 days. Covariates included patients’ socio-demographics, clinical characteristics, and comorbidities. Results: The overall proportion of rehabilitation use by 30 days was 38.6%, ranging from 34.6-46.5% across SVI quintiles. In multivariable analysis, quintiles of higher summary SVI were associated with lower rehabilitation use compared with the least vulnerable quintile (RD and 95% CI, Q5 vs Q1: -0.098 [-0.147 to -0.049]; Table). There was a significant decreasing trend across quintiles (P-trend < 0.001). Similar results were observed for SVI sub-domains except for minority status and language. Conclusion: Higher social vulnerability was associated with less post-stroke rehabilitation use. The finding is useful to identify communities for targeted interventions to improve access and utilization to rehabilitation.

Postacute Expenditures Among Patients Discharged Home After Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack: The COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) Trial

ObjectivesThe COMPASS (COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services) pragmatic trial cluster-randomized 40 hospitals in North Carolina to the COMPASS transitional care (TC) postacute care intervention or usual care. We estimated the difference in healthcare expenditures postdischarge for patients enrolled in the COMPASS-TC model of care compared with usual care. MethodsWe linked data for patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack enrolled in the COMPASS trial with administrative claims from Medicare fee-for-service (n = 2262), Medicaid (n = 341), and a large private insurer (n = 234). The primary outcome was 90-day total expenditures, analyzed separately by payer. Secondary outcomes were total expenditures 30- and 365-days postdischarge and, among Medicare beneficiaries, expenditures by point of service. In addition to intent-to-treat analysis, we conducted a per-protocol analysis to compare Medicare patients who received the intervention with those who did not, using randomization status as an instrumental variable. ResultsWe found no statistically significant difference in total 90-day postacute expenditures between intervention and usual care; the results were consistent across payers. Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the COMPASS intervention arm had higher 90-day hospital readmission expenditures ($682, 95% CI $60-$1305), 30-day emergency department expenditures ($132, 95% CI $13-$252), and 30-day ambulatory care expenditures ($67, 95% CI $38-$96) compared with usual care. The per-protocol analysis did not yield a significant difference in 90-day postacute care expenditures for Medicare COMPASS patients. ConclusionsThe COMPASS-TC model did not significantly change patients’ total healthcare expenditures for up to 1 year postdischarge.

Abstract P471: Predictors of Referral to Community-Based Rehabilitation Following Stroke

Background: While several studies have examined care transitions following stroke, few have assessed use of rehabilitation. We explored factors predictive of referral to community-based rehabilitation following stroke. Setting: 40 NC acute care hospitals that participated in the COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services study from 2016-2019. Participants: Adults discharged home following stroke or TIA (N=11,195) Methods: Guided by an a priori conceptual framework, 41 predictors of referral to community-based rehabilitation were grouped into 3 patient-level domains: demographics, stroke severity, and medical history (e.g., prior stroke); 2 hospital-level domains: structural characteristics (e.g., bed size) and stroke-specific characteristics (e.g., stroke center status); and 1 community-level domain (county-level therapist supply). We estimated predictors of referral using a logistic mixed model with a hospital-specific random effect. We used a hierarchical backward selection approach, first performing domain-specific model selection, then entering retained variables into a complete model. Results: The cohort was 49% female, 72% white, with a mean age of 66.8 (SD=14.0) years and overall low stroke severity [mean [SD] NIHSS 2.4 [3.8]). Thirty-six percent of patients were referred to rehabilitation. Referral varied across hospitals, ranging from 3-78%, with a median of 35%. In the final model, older age, female sex, non-white race, higher stroke severity, longer length of stay, previous stroke, current smoking, and heart failure were associated with higher odds of referral as was hospital-employed vs. external-contracted OT services (Table). Discussion: Approximately one-third of stroke survivors discharged home were referred to community-based rehabilitation. Women and non-white patients had higher odds of referral. Hospital and community factors were largely not independent predictors of referral. Unmeasured process measures may play a role in unexplained hospital variation.

Post-acute Ambulatory Care Service Use Among Patients Discharged Home After Stroke or TIA: The Cluster-randomized COMPASS Study.

We examined transitional care management within 90 days and 1 year following discharge home among acute stroke and transient ischemic attack patients from the Comprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) Study, a cluster-randomized pragmatic trial of early supported discharge conducted in 41 hospitals (40 hospital units) in North Carolina, United States. Data for 2262 of the total 6024 (37.6%; 1069 intervention and 1193 usual care) COMPASS patients were linked with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services fee-for-service Medicare claims. Time to the first ambulatory care visit was examined using Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for patient characteristics not included in the randomization protocol. Only 6% of the patients [mean (SD) age 74.9 (10.2) years, 52.1% women, 80.3% White)] did not have an ambulatory care visit within 90 days postdischarge. Mean time (SD) to first ambulatory care visit was 12.0 (26.0) and 16.3 (35.1) days in intervention and usual care arms, respectively, with the majority of visits in both study arms to primary care providers. The COMPASS intervention resulted in a 27% greater use of ambulatory care services within 1 year postdischarge, relative to usual care [HR=1.27 (95% CI: 1.14-1.41)]. The use of transitional care billing codes was significantly greater in the intervention arm as compared with usual care [OR=1.87 (95% CI: 1.54-2.27)]. The COMPASS intervention, which was aimed at improving stroke post-acute care, was associated with an increase in the use of ambulatory care services by stroke and transient ischemic attack patients discharged home and an increased use of transitional care billing codes by ambulatory providers.

Familial caregiving following stroke: findings from the comprehensive post-acute stroke services (COMPASS) pragmatic cluster-randomized transitional care study

ABSTRACT Background Stroke patients discharged home often require prolonged assistance from caregivers. Little is known about the real-world effectiveness of a comprehensive stroke transitional care intervention on relieving caregiver strain. Objectives To describe the effect of the COMPASS transitional care (COMPASS-TC) intervention on caregiver strain and characterize the types, duration, and intensity of caregiving. Methods The cluster-randomized COMPASS pragmatic trial evaluated the effectiveness of COMPASS-TC versus usual care with patients with mild stroke and TIA at 40 hospitals in North Carolina, USA. Of 5882 patients enrolled, 4208 (71%) identified a familial caregiver. A follow-up Caregiver Questionnaire, including the Modified Caregiver Strain Index, was administered at approximately three months post-discharge. Demographics and frequency, duration, and intensity of caregiving were compared between groups. Results 1228 caregivers (29%) completed the questionnaire. Completion was positively associated with older patient age, white race, and spousal relationship. One-third of the caregivers provided ≥30 hours of care per week and 889 (79%) provided care ≥9 weeks. Average standardized caregiver strain was 21.9 (0–100), increasing with stroke severity and comorbidity burden. Women caregivers reported higher strain than men. Treatment allocation was not associated with caregiver strain. Conclusions This sample of mild stroke and TIA survivors received significant assistance from familial caregivers. However, caregiver strain was relatively low. Findings support the importance of familial caregiving in stroke, the continued disproportionate burden on women within the family, and the need for future research on caregiver support.

Methodological Challenges and Statistical Approaches in the COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services Study.

Background:The COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services study was a cluster-randomized pragmatic trial designed to evaluate a comprehensive care transitions model versus usual care. The data collected during this trial were complex and analysis methodology was required that could simultaneously account for the cluster-randomized design, missing patient-level covariates, outcome nonresponse, and substantial nonadherence to the intervention.Objective:The objective of this study was to discuss an array of complementary statistical methods to evaluate treatment effectiveness that appropriately addressed the challenges presented by the complex data arising from this pragmatic trial.Methods:We utilized multiple imputation combined with inverse probability weighting to account for missing covariate and outcome data in the estimation of intention-to-treat effects (ITT). The ITT estimand reflects the effectiveness of assignment to the COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services intervention compared with usual care (ie, it does not take into account intervention adherence). Per-protocol analyses provide complementary information about the effect of treatment, and therefore are relevant for patients to inform their decision-making. We describe estimation of the complier average causal effect using an instrumental variables approach through 2-stage least squares estimation. For all preplanned analyses, we also discuss additional sensitivity analyses.Discussion:Pragmatic trials are well suited to inform clinical practice. Care should be taken to proactively identify the appropriate balance between control and pragmatism in trial design. Valid estimation of ITT and per-protocol effects in the presence of complex data requires application of appropriate statistical methods and concerted efforts to ensure high-quality data are collected.

Hospital to Home Transition for Patients With Stroke Under Bundled Payments

Bundled payments are a promising alternative payment model for reducing costs and improving the coordination of postacute stroke care, yet there is limited evidence supporting the effectiveness of bundled payments for stroke. This may be due to the lack of effective strategies to address the complex needs of stroke survivors. In this article, we describe COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS), a comprehensive transitional care intervention focused on discharge from the acute care setting to home. COMPASS may serve as a potential care redesign strategy under bundled payments for stroke, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation Bundled Payment for Care Improvement Initiative. The COMPASS care model is aligned with the incentive structures and essential components of bundled payments in terms of care coordination, patient assessment, patient and family involvement, and continuity of care. Ongoing evaluation will inform the design of incorporating COMPASS-like transitional care interventions into a stroke bundle.

Shortfall in stroke care: A study of ischaemic stroke care practices in a South African metropole.

In recent years there have been significant advances in the management of stroke. In particular, reperfusion therapies have been shown to confer significant benefit, with the possibility of reversing ischaemic stroke or reducing disability when administered to suitable patients. However, these therapies also carry significant risk, including death. The South African (SA) and other international guidelines for stroke care provide recommendations to optimise benefit and reduce risk of these novel treatments. Failure to adhere to recommended guidelines can lead to increased preventable morbidity and mortality in such patients. To describe the acute and post-acute ischaemic stroke services offered to patients in level 1, 2 and 3 hospitals in the Cape Metro Health District, determine levels of adherence to the SA stroke guideline, and identify barriers to optimal stroke patient care. This study in five level 1, one level 2 and two level 3 public hospitals involved semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaires and reviews of ischaemic stroke patient discharge summaries, hospital staffing, stroke protocols, diagnostic investigations available and stroke education for patients and their caregivers. The findings were then compared with recommendations in the national guideline. Twenty-eight participants (18 doctors, 10 nurses) from the general medical wards, stroke units and emergency units of eight hospitals were invited to participate in interviews. Most level 1 and 2 hospitals experienced difficulties transferring patients to higher levels of care. There was also limited access to stroke management protocols, inadequate stroke education among health professionals, pre- and in-hospital delays in patients receiving medical attention, and limited access to diagnostic investigations. As only a total of 12 stroke unit beds were available at the two level 3 hospitals, the majority of ischaemic stroke patients were admitted to the general medical wards of level 1, 2 and 3 hospitals. The level of care at all these facilities was not homogeneous. The two stroke units at the level 3 hospitals adhered most closely to the recommended SA stroke guideline. Elsewhere, ischaemic stroke care varied widely across general medical wards at all hospital levels. Adherence to the guideline was influenced by factors such as limited access to diagnostic investigations, patient delays in receiving medical attention, and shortages of staff. Monitoring systems for continuous evaluation of the quality of acute and post-acute stroke services are needed. The shortfall in compliance with recommended stroke treatment guidelines could lead to worse outcomes and exposure to litigation.

The Cost of Implementing and Sustaining the COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services Model.

The COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) model, a transitional care intervention for stroke patients discharged home, was tested against status quo postacute stroke care in a cluster-randomized trial in 40 hospitals in North Carolina. This study examined the hospital-level costs associated with implementing and sustaining COMPASS. Using an activity-based costing survey, we estimated hospital-level resource costs spent on COMPASS-related activities during approximately 1 year. We identified hospitals that were actively engaged in COMPASS during the year before the survey and collected resource cost estimates from 22 hospitals. We used median wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and COMPASS enrollment data to estimate the hospital-level costs per COMPASS enrollee. Between November 2017 and March 2019, 1582 patients received the COMPASS intervention across the 22 hospitals included in this analysis. Average annual hospital-level COMPASS costs were $2861 per patient (25th percentile: $735; 75th percentile: $3,475). Having 10% higher stroke patient volume was associated with 5.1% lower COMPASS costs per patient (P=0.016). About half (N=10) of hospitals reported postacute clinic visits as their highest-cost activity, while a third (N=7) reported case ascertainment (ie, identifying eligible patients) as their highest-cost activity. We found that the costs of implementing COMPASS varied across hospitals. On average, hospitals with higher stroke volume and higher enrollment reported lower costs per patient. Based on average costs of COMPASS and readmissions for stroke patients, COMPASS could lower net costs if the model is able to prevent about 6 readmissions per year.

How engagement of a diverse set of stakeholders shaped the design, implementation, and dissemination of a multicenter pragmatic trial of stroke transitional care: The COMPASS study.

Evidence is limited on how to synthesize and incorporate the views of stakeholders into a multisite pragmatic trial and how much academic teams change study design and protocol in response to stakeholder input. This qualitative study describes how stakeholders contributed to the design, conduct, and dissemination of findings of a multisite pragmatic clinical trial, the COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) Study. We engaged stakeholders as integral research partners by embedding them in study committees and community resource networks that supported local sites. Data stemmed from formal focus groups and continuous participation in working groups. Guided by Grounded Theory, we extracted themes from focus group and meeting notes. These were discussed as a team and with other stakeholder groups for feasibility. A consensus approach was used. Stakeholder input changed many aspects of the study including: the care model that treated stroke as a chronic condition after hospital discharge, training for hospital-based providers who often lacked awareness of the barriers to recovery that patients face, support for caregivers who were essential for stroke patients' recovery, and for community-based health and social service providers whose services can support recovery yet often go underutilized. Stakeholders brought value to both pragmatic research and health service delivery. Future studies should test the impact of elements of study implementation informed by stakeholders vs those that are not.

Movement Matters, and So Does Context: Lessons Learned From Multisite Implementation of the Movement Matters Activity Program for Stroke in the Comprehensive Postacute Stroke Services Study

The purpose of this Special Communication is to discuss the rationale and design of the Movement Matters Activity Program for Stroke (MMAP) and explore implementation successes and challenges in home health and outpatient therapy practices across the stroke belt state of North Carolina. MMAP is an interventional component of the Comprehensive Postacute Stroke Services Study, a randomized multicenter pragmatic trial of stroke transitional care. MMAP was designed to maximize survivor health, recovery, and functional independence in the community and to promote evidence-based rehabilitative care. MMAP provided training, tools, and resources to enable rehabilitation providers to (1) prescribe physical activity and exercise according to evidence-based guidelines and programs, (2) match service setting and parameters with survivor function and benefit coverage, and (3) align treatment with quality metric reporting to demonstrate value-based care. MMAP implementation strategies were aligned with the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change project, and MMAP site champion and facilitator survey feedback were thematically organized into the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research domains. MMAP implementation was challenging, required modification and was affected by provider- and system-level factors. Program and study participation were limited and affected by practice priorities, productivity standards, and stroke patient volume. Sites with successful implementation appeared to have empowered MMAP champions in vertically integrated systems that embraced innovation. Findings from this broad evaluation can serve as a road map for the design and implementation of other comprehensive, complex interventions that aim to bridge the currently disconnected realms of acute care, postacute care, and community resources.

Randomized Pragmatic Trial of Stroke Transitional Care

Background The objectives of this study were to develop and test in real-world clinical practice the effectiveness of a comprehensive postacute stroke transitional care (TC) management program. Methods and Results The COMPASS study (Comprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services) was a pragmatic cluster-randomized trial where the hospital was the unit of randomization. The intervention (COMPASS-TC) was initiated at 20 hospitals, and 20 hospitals provided their usual care. Hospital staff enrolled 6024 adult stroke and transient ischemic attack patients discharged home between 2016 and 2018. COMPASS-TC was patient-centered and assessed social and functional determinates of health to inform individualized care plans. Ninety-day outcomes were evaluated by blinded telephone interviewers. The primary outcome was functional status (Stroke Impact Scale-16); secondary outcomes were mortality, disability, medication adherence, depression, cognition, self-rated health, fatigue, care satisfaction, home blood pressure monitoring, and falls. The primary analysis was intention to treat. Of intervention hospitals, 58% had uninterrupted intervention delivery. Thirty-five percent of patients at intervention hospitals attended a COMPASS clinic visit. The primary outcome was measured for 59% of patients and was not significantly influenced by the intervention. Mean Stroke Impact Scale-16 (±SD) was 80.6±21.1 in TC versus 79.9±21.4 in usual care. Home blood pressure monitoring was self-reported by 72% of intervention patients versus 64% of usual care patients (adjusted odds ratio, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.21-1.70]). No other secondary outcomes differed. Conclusions Although designed according to the best available evidence with input from various stakeholders and consistent with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services TC policies, the COMPASS model of TC was not consistently incorporated into real-world health care. We found no significant effect of the intervention on functional status at 90 days post-discharge. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02588664.

Supporting people with post-stroke aphasia to live well: A cross-sectional survey of Speech & Language Therapists in Ireland.

Living well with post-stroke aphasia is supported by responsive, collaborative heath and related services, aphasia information and training for people with aphasia (PWA) and their social networks, and opportunities to contribute and participate autonomously in their communities. Several international surveys indicate shortcomings in the provision of long-term support and, in Ireland, while there is a lack of data around service provision for PWA, there is evidence that post-acute stroke services are fragmented and under-resourced. The aim of this study was to survey Speech & Language Therapists (SLTs), due to their unique role in aphasia management, to understand what SLT and related support services and aphasia information and training are currently available to support living well with aphasia in Ireland. We developed and piloted a self-administered, web-based cross-sectional survey with questions informed by a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis around living well with aphasia, and with input from a Public and Patient Involvement aphasia advisory group. Data from 95 SLTs working with PWA were analysed using descriptive statistics. Although SLT was generally available for PWA, the results highlight access barriers and evidence-practice gaps in terms of the amount, intensity and timing of SLT to be maximally effective and there was a lack of PWA input into service design and evaluation. Access to other relevant supports such as mental health services was inconsistent and there was a lack of community support for families. There were shortcomings in access to aphasia information/training for PWA, families, friends and other healthcare professionals. There is a need for a coordinated and standardised approach to supporting PWA across Ireland. This study addresses an evidence gap around the provision of stroke services for PWA and is part of a larger project aiming to produce recommendations for improving person-centred support to facilitate living well with aphasia.

Implementation of a Transitional Care Model for Stroke: Perspectives From Frontline Clinicians, Administrators, and COMPASS-TC Implementation Staff.

Stroke is a chronic, complex condition that disproportionally affects older adults. Health systems are evaluating innovative transitional care (TC) models to improve outcomes in these patients. The Comprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) Study, a large cluster-randomized pragmatic trial, tested a TC model for patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack discharged home from the hospital. The implementation of COMPASS-TC in complex real-world settings was evaluated to identify successes and challenges with integration into the clinical workflow. We conducted a concurrent process evaluation of COMPASS-TC implementation during the first year of the trial. Qualitative data were collected from 4 sources across 19 intervention hospitals. We analyzed transcripts from 43 conference calls with hospital clinicians, individual and group interviews with leaders and clinicians from 9 hospitals, and 2 interviews with the COMPASS-TC Director of Implementation using iterative thematic analysis. Themes were compared to the domains of the RE-AIM framework. Organizational, individual, and community factors related to Reach, Adoption, and Implementation were identified. Organizational readiness was an additional key factor to successful implementation, in that hospitals that were not "organizationally ready" had more difficulty addressing implementation challenges. Multifaceted TC models are challenging to implement. Facilitators of implementation were organizational commitment and capacity, prioritizing implementation of innovative delivery models to provide comprehensive care, being able to address challenges quickly, implementing systems for tracking patients throughout the intervention, providing clinicians with autonomy and support to address challenges, and adequately resourcing the intervention. NCT02588664.

Using REDCap to track stakeholder engagement: A time-saving tool for PCORI-funded studies.

Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) is a secure, web-based electronic data capture application for building and managing surveys and databases. It can also be used for study management, data transfer, and data export into a variety of statistical programs. REDcap was developed and supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Program and is used in over 3700 institutions worldwide. It can also be used to track and measure stakeholder engagement, an integral element of research funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Continuously and accurately tracking and reporting on stakeholder engagement activities throughout the life of a PCORI-funded trial can be challenging, particularly in complex trials with multiple types of engagement. In this paper, we show our approach for collecting and capturing stakeholder engagement activities using a shareable REDCap tool in one of the PCORI's first large pragmatic clinical trials (the Comprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services) to inform other investigators planning cluster-randomized pragmatic trials. Benefits and challenges are highlighted for researchers seeking to consistently monitor and measure stakeholder engagement. We describe how REDCap can provide a time-saving approach to capturing how stakeholders engage in a PCORI-funded study and reporting how stakeholders influenced the study in progress reports back to PCORI.

Abstract NS3: A Comprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) Website for Public Use

Background: Stroke patients, caregivers, and health and human services are in need of organized, evidence-based resources to improve post-acute care and outcomes. Educational materials vetted by stakeholders are scarce and difficult to develop. The COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) Study developed online resources by discipline for clinical providers, patients, caregivers, and health and human services teams. Purpose: This presentation introduces the COMPASS website content available and ready for immediate use to support post-acute stroke care quality improvement. Methods: Materials were developed as a component of the PCORI-funded COMPASS Study designed to implement and evaluate comprehensive transitional care (TC) for stroke survivors. Patients discharged home from 41 NC hospitals after a stroke or TIA received COMPASS TC which incorporated Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) recommendations: a follow-up phone call within two days of discharge; a comprehensive follow-up clinic visit; and delivery of a patient care plan. An interdisciplinary team of health care providers, stakeholders, and researchers developed patient and caregiver educational materials tested for sixth grade literacy, a community resource directory, and training materials for implementation of COMPASS TC that are available on the COMPASS website at www.nccompass-study.org/. Results: Educational products, including a directory of resources, training manuals, recorded webinars, instructional handouts, animated videos, and patient/caregiver materials are on the COMPASS website. An electronic application called COMPASS-Care Plan (CP) also developed can be readily integrated into Epic and Cerner electronic health records. COMPASS-CP was developed to streamline the delivery of the TC model. Since the website was made public July 1, 2019, there have been 616 views from 15 countries with the majority reviewing patient/caregiver resources. Conclusions: The COMPASS website provides health and human services teams with organized, evidence-based resources to support delivery and management of post-acute transitional care for patients and caregivers.

Abstract WP337: Age and Race Disparities in Statin Prescribing Persist Following Discharge for Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack

Introduction: Prescribing of high intensity statins (atorvastatin 40-80mg/d, rosuvastatin 20-40mg/d) following acute stroke and anti-coagulants in the subgroup with atrial fibrillation (AF) result in reduced risk for a second stroke. Recent data suggests that high intensity statins are less often prescribed for older patients and real-world data are limited for direct-acting oral anti-coagulants (DOAC). The present study examines discharge prescribing patterns for these medications by age and race from a prospective trial in 41 hospitals in North Carolina. Methods: Data are from the Comprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services Study, a cluster-randomized trial of transitional care for adult stroke or TIA patients discharged directly home after hospital discharge. Analyses included 3787 patients [mean age 66 yrs., 47% female; 30% non-white] linked to the Get-with-the-Guidelines (GWTG) database. Prescribing of intensive statin therapy as well as rivaroxaban or apixaban vs. warfarin in those with a history of AF was abstracted, and was compared by age (< 65 vs. ≥ 65yr.), race (white vs. non-white) and gender. Odds ratios were obtained from logistic mixed models with a random intercept for hospital. Results: Among 3096 patients prescribed statin therapy at discharge, 61% were prescribed intensive statin therapy. Patients who were ≥ 65yr. had significantly lower odds of intensive statin therapy prescription than younger patients (OR=0.54, 95% CI 0.45-0.65); results were similar across all sex-race subgroups. Among 366 patients with a history of AF who were prescribed an anti-coagulant at discharge, 72% were prescribed rivaroxaban or apixaban. Among 254 patients ≥ 65yr., 26 of 39 non-white patients (67%) vs. 156 of 215 white patients (73%) were prescribed rivaroxaban or apixaban [p=0.29]. Conclusion: Intensive statin therapy following mild stroke or TIA is significantly less common in older patients compared with those under age 65. Among patients ≥65yr. with a history of AF and acute stroke, there was minimal difference by race in rivaroxaban or apixaban prescribing. Prescription fills/refills and adherence should be further explored in these patients.

Abstract WP197: Patient-Reported Physical Outcomes Measures in Mild-to-Moderate Stroke and TIA Patients

Introduction: Mild-to-moderate stroke and TIA patients are discharged directly home, but may have residual physical disability. The purpose of this study was to compare distributions of three patient-reported outcome measures: PROMIS GPH, Stroke Impact Scale-16 (SIS-16), and simplified modified Rankin (Rankin). Methods: PROMIS GPH includes global ratings of physical activities, physical health, pain and fatigue, SIS-16 includes ADLs, IADLs, and physical activities, and Rankin includes ADLs, IADLs, and overall comparison of function to pre-stroke function. Outcomes were measured at 90-days post-hospital discharge in 1768 stroke and TIA patients discharged directly home in the COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services Study. Ceiling effects (frequency of maximum score) were evaluated for each measure. Differences in SIS-16 and PROMIS GPH scores across levels of Rankin were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated between PROMIS GPH, SIS-16, Rankin, and individual items of the PROMIS GPH. Results: At hospital baseline, patients were 68 ± 13 years of age, 50% female, 72% stroke, 28% TIA, and with mean ± SD NIHSS of 2.3 ± 3.6. At 90 days, mean ± SD were 45.8 ± 9.8 for PROMIS GPH, 82.1 ± 19.7 for SIS-16, and 1.2 ± 1.3 for Rankin. Ceiling effects for the PROMIS GPH were (3.1%), SIS-16 (24.8%) and Rankin (38.9%). PROMIS GPH and SIS-16 scores differed significantly (p < 0.0001) across categories of the Rankin. Correlations with Rankin were moderate for SIS-16 (r=-0.64; 95% CI -0.67, -0.62) and PROMIS GPH (r=-0.54; 95% CI -0.58, -0.51). Correlations between SIS-16 and PROMIS GPH items were strong for physical activities (r=0.75; 95% CI 0.63, 0.77) and moderate for physical health (r=0.55; 95% CI 0.52, 0.59), fatigue (r=0.50; 95% CI 0.47, 0.54) and pain (r=0.44; 95% CI 0.40, 0.48). Of 438 patients at SIS-16 ceiling, the mean ± SD for global assessment of physical activities, physical health, pain, and fatigue on a scale of 0-5 were 4.8 ± 0.6, 3.7 ± 0.9, 4.4 ± 0.9, and 4.2 ± 0.7, respectively. Conclusion: PROMIS GPH may better detect physical health differences in mild-to-moderate stroke and TIA patients. Variability in global assessments of physical health, pain, and fatigue contribute to the lower PROMIS GPH ceiling effects.

Patient Factors Associated With Attendance at a Comprehensive Postacute Stroke Visit: Insight From the Vanguard Site

ObjectiveTo understand the patient-influenced activities and characteristics associated with return to a single postacute care transitional care clinic visit in a cohort of patients cared for at the test health system site of the larger Comprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) cluster randomized trial. DesignRetrospective cohort. SettingA large health system. ParticipantsPatients discharged directly home between June 2016 and June 2018 after sustaining a stroke who did not receive formal inpatient rehabilitation services while being cared for in a single comprehensive stroke center, defined as a center that meet standards to rapidly diagnose and treat the most complex stroke cases. InterventionsStudy participants had the opportunity to participate in a (1) 2-day call, (2) comprehensive care transitions clinic visit, and (3) individualized care plan. Main Outcome MeasuresPatient participation in a single postacute care comprehensive care transitions visit, ideally completed within 7-14 calendar days post discharge vs not attending this visit. Care transition visits are where the responsibility for preventive care, other services, and posthospital follow-up are transitioned to outpatient providers. ResultsAmong 1300 eligible patients (mean age 64.8 years; 45% female; 25.4% nonwhite; 9.7% uninsured), 95.7% had follow-up clinic visits scheduled before discharge, 22.6% received home health referrals before discharge, 60.2% completed the 2-day call, and 63.2% attended the COMPASS visit. Among attendees, 33.2% attended by day 14, 71.3% attended within 30 days, and 28.7% attended after day 30. The median driving distance to the COMPASS visit was 45.9 miles or 73.9 km. Odds of visit attendance were higher if COMPASS 2-day follow up calls were completed, if follow-up clinic appointments were scheduled before discharge, if the patient had a primary care provider, and if the patients experienced a stroke vs a transient ischemic attack. Additionally, when we used the number of referrals at hospital discharge for different types of outpatient therapy as a surrogate marker of poststroke impairment, patients having no therapy referrals (milder to no impairments) had lower odds of attending the COMPASS visit than those with 1 therapy referral. Likewise, those with more than 1 referral were also less likely to attend the COMPASS visit. ConclusionsThis analysis highlights that scheduling visits at discharge and completing timely telephone follow-up shortly after discharge may lead to greater adherence to in-person clinic follow-up after stroke.

Implementation of a billable transitional care model for stroke patients: the COMPASS study

BackgroundThe COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) pragmatic trial compared the effectiveness of comprehensive transitional care (COMPASS-TC) versus usual care among stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients discharged home from North Carolina hospitals. We evaluated implementation of COMPASS-TC in 20 hospitals randomized to the intervention using the RE-AIM framework.MethodsWe evaluated hospital-level Adoption of COMPASS-TC; patient Reach (meeting transitional care management requirements of timely telephone and face-to-face follow-up); Implementation using hospital quality measures (concurrent enrollment, two-day telephone follow-up, 14-day clinic visit scheduling); and hospital-level sustainability (Maintenance). Effectiveness compared 90-day physical function (Stroke Impact Scale-16), between patients receiving COMPASS-TC versus not. Associations between hospital and patient characteristics with Implementation and Reach measures were estimated with mixed logistic regression models.ResultsAdoption: Of 95 eligible hospitals, 41 (43%) participated in the trial. Of the 20 hospitals randomized to the intervention, 19 (95%) initiated COMPASS-TC.Reach: A total of 24% (656/2751) of patients enrolled received a billable TC intervention, ranging from 6 to 66% across hospitals.Implementation: Of eligible patients enrolled, 75.9% received two-day calls (or two attempts) and 77.5% were scheduled/offered clinic visits. Most completed visits (78% of 975) occurred within 14 days.Effectiveness: Physical function was better among patients who attended a 14-day visit versus those who did not (adjusted mean difference: 3.84, 95% CI 1.42–6.27, p = 0.002).Maintenance: Of the 19 adopting hospitals, 14 (74%) sustained COMPASS-TC.ConclusionsCOMPASS-TC implementation varied widely. The greatest challenge was reaching patients because of system difficulties maintaining consistent delivery of follow-up visits and patient preferences to pursue alternate post-acute care. Receiving COMPASS-TC was associated with better functional status.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02588664. Registered 28 October 2015.