Methods

Retrospective review of the electronic medical record (EMR) was performed on all adult patients treated with endovascular therapy for ischemic stroke between January 2016 and February 2020. A bivariate analysis was performed to compare patients in the direct admit versus transfer group. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to determine which factors affect 90-day modified Rankin score (mRS) and to evaluate if transfer status was an independent predictor in this model.

Results

Three hundred and twenty-five patients were included in this study; 127 patients belonged to the direct admit group while 198 were in the transfer group. Thirteen patients (20%) in the direct admit group had a 90-day mRS score of 0-2 and so did 29 patients (25.2%) in the transfer group; thus, no statistically significant difference found in clinical outcomes between both groups (p-value= 0.427). In a multivariable logistic regression model that accounts for age, gender, smoking status, baseline mRS, presenting National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), procedure duration, thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) score, post-NIHSS and decompressive hemicraniectomy, transfer status was not found to be predictive of clinical outcomes (OR 0.727 95% CI 0.349-1.516; p-value= 0.396).

Conclusion

Transfer status is not significantly associated with 90-day outcome. Since Hub and Spoke is not associated with worse outcomes compared to direct admit, it remains a viable model for providing effective care to stroke patients in an urban setting.