Background and objectives: Socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods are known to have higher incidence rates of stroke and less access to high-quality stroke care. We aimed to examine whether there is an association between neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) and functional outcome after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for ischemic stroke in a high-income country.
Methods: Data from 2 randomized trials, which included patients treated with EVT within 6 hours after stroke onset: MR CLEAN-MED and MR CLEAN-NO IV were studied. A per postcode composite score of education, employment, and household income (scores ranging from -1 to 1) created by Statistics Netherlands, represented nSES. The association with functional outcome after 90 days (modified Rankin Scale [mRS]), functional independence (mRS 0-2), neurologic deficit at 24 hours (NIH Stroke Scale [NIHSS]), and radiologic outcomes (expanded treatment in cerebral infarction score and follow-up infarct volume [FIV]) were analyzed using regression analyses adjusted for patient characteristics, including baseline NIHSS.
Results: We included 910 patients (median age 71.5 years, 404 (44.4%) women, median baseline NIHSS 15) in the analyses. Patients with a higher nSES had a higher likelihood of a more favorable functional outcome (a shift toward improved outcome on the mRS) (adjusted common odds ratio [OR] 1.90, 95% CI 1.21-3.01) and were more likely to have regained functional independence (adjusted OR 3.21, 95% CI 1.82-5.70) at 90 days. There was no significant association between the nSES and the degree of neurologic deficit at 24 hours (adjusted β -0.24, 95% CI -0.50 to 0.01, p = 0.06) or radiologic outcomes (reperfusion status [adjusted OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.45-1.78], FIV [adjusted β 0.01, 95% CI -0.17 to 0.20, p = 0.89]).
Discussion: Living in a more socioeconomically affluent neighborhood was associated with a more favorable functional outcome at 90 days, but not with degree of neurologic deficit at 24 hours or radiologic outcomes. This suggests that nSES-based inequalities exist in the postacute phase of stroke care, and highlights the importance of continuing to work toward health equity for patients with stroke.