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INPATIENTS: Comparing Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Adults with In-Hospital and Community-Onset Strokes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 December 2025

Katrina Hannah Dizon Ignacio*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Calgary Stroke Program, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Rana Abdalrahman
Affiliation:
University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Chitapa Kaveeta
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Calgary Stroke Program, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Mohamad Mehdi
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Calgary Stroke Program, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Ameen Alizada
Affiliation:
Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Dana Nicol
Affiliation:
Department of Data and Analytics, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Jillian Stang
Affiliation:
Department of Data and Analytics, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Robert Moore
Affiliation:
Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Mohamed Alshamrani
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Calgary Stroke Program, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Benjamin Agnelli
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Calgary Stroke Program, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Neurology, Max Rady Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada
Jessalyn K. Holodinsky
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Emergency Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Bijoy K. Menon
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Calgary Stroke Program, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Michael D. Hill
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Calgary Stroke Program, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Mohammed A. Al-mekhlafi
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Calgary Stroke Program, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
*
Corresponding author: Katrina Hannah Dizon Ignacio; Emails: katrinahannah.ignaci@ucalgary.ca; kathaignacio@gmail.com
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Abstract

Background and Objectives:

In-hospital strokes comprise a small but high-risk subgroup of patients and are associated with worse outcomes compared to community-onset strokes. We compared clinical characteristics, workflow metrics and clinical outcomes of adult patients with in-hospital strokes and those with community-onset strokes in Alberta.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study (INPATIENTS: IN-hosPitAl sTrokes InAlbErta iNcidence and ouTcomeS) from Jan 1, 2018–Dec 31, 2022 using provincial administrative data and chart review to compare in-hospital and community-onset acute ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. We performed multivariable logistic regression to determine the association of stroke onset location (in-hospital vs community-onset) with the following outcomes: in-hospital mortality, prolonged hospital stay and in-hospital complications. Negative binomial regression was conducted to compare workflow metrics between cohorts. All models were adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, facility type and admission year.

Results:

Among 24,039 stroke admissions, 2,545 (10.6%) were in-hospital strokes and 20,895 (86.9%) were ischemic. In-hospital strokes had higher rates of comorbidities and were associated with higher in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR [aOR] 3.09; 95% CI 2.80–3.41), prolonged hospital stays (aOR 5.47; 95% CI 4.89–6.112) and increased in-hospital complications. In-hospital ischemic stroke patients receiving thrombectomy showed lower odds of in-hospital mortality (aOR 0.46; 95% CI, 0.28–0.75) and pneumonia (aOR 0.38; 95% CI, 0.20–0.71) compared to non-treated patients. Workflow times were significantly longer in in-hospital ischemic strokes compared to community-onset strokes.

Discussion:

Patients with in-hospital stroke experience higher rates of mortality, poorer clinical outcomes and significant delays in management. Targeted quality improvement efforts are needed to address care gaps and improve outcomes in this population.

Résumé

RÉSUMÉ

Patients hospitalisés : comparaisons entre les caractéristiques cliniques d’adultes victimes d’un AVC à l’hôpital et dans la communauté et l’évolution de leur état de santé.

Contexte et objectifs:

Les AVC qui se produisent à l’hôpital sous-tendent un sous-groupe restreint de patients qui sont à haut risque et dont l’évolution de l’état de santé est plus défavorable que celle des patients dont les AVC sont survenus dans la communauté. À cet égard, nous avons comparé entre elles les caractéristiques cliniques, les mesures du flux de travaux et l’évolution de l’état de santé de patients adultes victimes d’un AVC à l’hôpital et d’autres patients victimes d’un AVC dans la communauté, et ce, en Alberta.

Méthodes :

Nous avons mené une étude de cohorte rétrospective (INPATIENTS : IN-hosPitAl sTrokes In AlbErta iNcidence and ouTcomeS) du 1er janvier 2018 au 31 décembre 2022 en utilisant des données administratives provinciales et un examen des dossiers pour comparer les accidents vasculaires cérébraux ischémiques et hémorragiques aigus survenant à l’hôpital et dans la communauté. Nous avons effectué une régression logistique multivariée afin de déterminer le lien entre le lieu d’apparition de l’AVC et les aspects suivants liés à l’évolution de l’état des patients : mortalité à l’hôpital, séjour prolongé à l’hôpital et complications à l’hôpital. Une régression binomiale négative a été effectuée afin de comparer les mesures du flux de travaux entre les deux cohortes. Tous les modèles ont été ensuite ajustés en fonction de l’âge, du sexe, des comorbidités, du type d’établissement et de l’année d’admission.

Résultats :

Parmi les 24 039 admissions en raison d’un AVC, 2 545 (10,6 %) concernaient des AVC de nature intrahospitalière et 20 895 (86,9 %) des AVC ischémiques. Les AVC survenus à l’hôpital ont présenté des taux plus élevés de comorbidités et ont été associés à une mortalité hospitalière plus élevée (RC ajusté [RCa] : 3,09 ; IC 95 % : 2,80-3,41), à des séjours hospitaliers prolongés (RCa : 5,47 ; IC 95 % : 4,89-6,112) ainsi qu’à une augmentation des complications hospitalières. Les patients victimes d’un AVC ischémique à l’hôpital ayant bénéficié d’une thrombectomie ont présenté un risque plus faible de mortalité à l’hôpital (RCa : 0,46 ; IC 95 % : 0,28-0,75) et de pneumonie (RCa : 0,38 ; IC 95 % : 0,20-0,71) par rapport à des patients non traités. Enfin, les délais de prise en charge (workflow times) se sont révélés notablement plus longs pour les AVC ischémiques survenus à l’hôpital que pour ceux survenus dans la communauté.

Discussion :

Les patients victimes d’un AVC à l’hôpital présentent ainsi des taux de mortalité plus élevés, une évolution de leur état clinique moins favorable et des délais importants en ce qui concerne leur prise en charge. Des efforts ciblés d’amélioration de la qualité sont nécessaires pour combler les lacunes en matière de soins et améliorer l’évolution de l’état de santé de cette population.

Information

Type
Original Article
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation
Figure 0

Figure 1. Study flowchart and classification of stroke types based on administrative data and manual chart review.

Figure 1

Table 1. Baseline characteristics of in-hospital and community-onset strokes

Figure 2

Table 2. Comparison of outcomes between in-hospital and community-onset strokes

Figure 3

Table 3. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios for primary outcomes comparing in-hospital to community-onset strokes

Figure 4

Table 4. Comparison of workflow metrics between in-hospital and community-onset acute ischemic strokes that received acute treatment

Figure 5

Table 5. Unadjusted and adjusted rate ratios for workflow metrics comparing treated in-hospital and community onset acute ischemic strokes

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