Barriers to Optimal Acute Management of Stroke: Perspective of a Stroke Center in Mexico City

• Published in: Frontiers in neurology 2021-12, Vol.12, p.690946-690946
• Main Authors: Cano-Nigenda, Vanessa, Castellanos-Pedroza, Enrique, Manrique-Otero, Diana, Méndez, Beatriz, Menéndez-Manjarrez, María Fernanda, Toledo-Treviño, Roberto, Calderón, Miguel, Arauz, Antonio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: barriers; developing country; low-and middle-income countries; Neurology; public health policies; stroke
• ISSN: 1664-2295; 1664-2295
• DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.690946

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We aimed to identify the main barriers to optimal acute management of stroke in a referral center. Demographic data was collected from patients assessed with acute stroke in the emergency department of the Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía (INNN) from January to June 2019. Additionally, a telephone interview was conducted with patients/primary caregiver to know which they considered the main reason for the delay in arrival at INNN since the onset of stroke. 116 patients were assessed [age 65 ± 15 years, 67 (57.8%) men]. Patients consulted other facilities prior to arrival at INNN in 59 (50.9%) cases (range of hospitals visited 1-4), 83 (71.6%) arrived in a private car, with prenotification in only 4 (3.4%) of the total sample. The mean onset-to-door time was 17 h (45 min-10 days). Telephone interviews were done in 61 patients/primary caregivers, stating that they consider the multiple evaluations in other facilities [ = 26/61 (42.6%)] as the main reason for delay in arrival at the ED, followed by ignorance of stroke symptoms and treatment urgency [ = 21/61 (34.4%)]. In this small, retrospective, single center study, the main prehospital barrier to optimal acute management of stroke in a developing country is multiple medical evaluations prior to the patient's transport to a specialized stroke hospital, who mostly arrived in a private car and without prenotification. These barriers can be overcome by strengthening public education and improving patient transfer networks and telemedicine.