The evolution of acute stroke care in Germany from 2019 to 2021: analysis of nation-wide administrative datasets.

Health services research Stroke Thrombectomy

Journal

Neurological research and practice
ISSN: 2524-3489
Titre abrégé: Neurol Res Pract
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101767802

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
11 Jan 2024
Historique:
received: 26 09 2023
accepted: 05 11 2023
medline: 11 1 2024
pubmed: 11 1 2024
entrez: 10 1 2024
Statut: epublish

Résumé

The treatment of ischemic stroke (IS) has changed considerably in recent years. Particularly the advent of mechanical thrombectomy (MTE) has revolutionized the available treatment options. Most patients in developed countries have access to intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). However access to MTE remains restricted in some regions despite efforts to increase its availability. We performed an evaluation of national datasets to monitor improvements made in access to revascularization therapies for IS patients in Germany. We analyzed national datasets on German Diagnosis-Related Groups and structured quality reports by extracting information of patients admitted with stroke with and without IVT and MTE for the period of 2019-2021. Data from 2016 and limited data for 2022 were also included for comparison. Admissions with ischemic stroke declined during the years of the COVID 19 pandemic by 4.5% from 227,258 in 2019 to 216,923 in 2021. IVT rates were stable with 16.3% being treated with IVT in 2019 and 2021. MTE rates continued to increase from 7.1 to 8.4% and the number of MTE centers increased by 14.8% in the same period. Over 87.3% of MTEs were performed in centers with a case volume exceeding 50 cases per year in 2021. The largest increase in the relative share of MTEs was seen in large MTE centers (n ≥ 200). Patient age for MTEs surpassed the age for IVTs in 2019 and the proportion of patients ≥ 80 years receiving MTE continued to increase. The proportion of regions in Germany with poor MTE rates (≤ 4.1%) decreased significantly from 2019 (12.3%) to 2021 (5.3%) (p < 0.001). We found strong evidence that while IVT rates reached a temporary ceiling effect, both the absolute number of and access to MTEs continued to increase in Germany. Regional disparities have become less significant and the majority of MTEs are performed in centers with medium or high case volumes.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
The treatment of ischemic stroke (IS) has changed considerably in recent years. Particularly the advent of mechanical thrombectomy (MTE) has revolutionized the available treatment options. Most patients in developed countries have access to intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). However access to MTE remains restricted in some regions despite efforts to increase its availability. We performed an evaluation of national datasets to monitor improvements made in access to revascularization therapies for IS patients in Germany.
METHODS METHODS
We analyzed national datasets on German Diagnosis-Related Groups and structured quality reports by extracting information of patients admitted with stroke with and without IVT and MTE for the period of 2019-2021. Data from 2016 and limited data for 2022 were also included for comparison.
RESULTS RESULTS
Admissions with ischemic stroke declined during the years of the COVID 19 pandemic by 4.5% from 227,258 in 2019 to 216,923 in 2021. IVT rates were stable with 16.3% being treated with IVT in 2019 and 2021. MTE rates continued to increase from 7.1 to 8.4% and the number of MTE centers increased by 14.8% in the same period. Over 87.3% of MTEs were performed in centers with a case volume exceeding 50 cases per year in 2021. The largest increase in the relative share of MTEs was seen in large MTE centers (n ≥ 200). Patient age for MTEs surpassed the age for IVTs in 2019 and the proportion of patients ≥ 80 years receiving MTE continued to increase. The proportion of regions in Germany with poor MTE rates (≤ 4.1%) decreased significantly from 2019 (12.3%) to 2021 (5.3%) (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
We found strong evidence that while IVT rates reached a temporary ceiling effect, both the absolute number of and access to MTEs continued to increase in Germany. Regional disparities have become less significant and the majority of MTEs are performed in centers with medium or high case volumes.

Identifiants

pubmed: 38200611
doi: 10.1186/s42466-023-00297-x
pii: 10.1186/s42466-023-00297-x
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

4

Informations de copyright

© 2024. The Author(s).

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Auteurs

Matthias N Ungerer (MN)

Department of Neurology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. matthias.ungerer@med.uni-heidelberg.de.

Dirk Bartig (D)

DRG Market, Osnabrück, Germany.

Daniel Richter (D)

Department of Neurology, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Herne, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Herne, Germany.

Christos Krogias (C)

Department of Neurology, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Herne, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Herne, Germany.

Werner Hacke (W)

Department of Neurology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.

Christoph Gumbinger (C)

Department of Neurology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.

Classifications MeSH