Trends in Endovascular Therapy and Clinical Outcomes Within the Nationwide Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Registry

Abstract

Background and Purpose—: We sought to determine hospital and patient characteristics associated with the use of endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke and to analyze trends in clinical outcome. Methods—: Data were from Get With The Guidelines-Stroke hospitals from April 1, 2003, to June 30, 2013. We looked at trends in number of hospitals providing endovascular therapy, the use of endovascular therapy in these hospitals and clinical outcomes. We analyzed hospital and patient characteristics associated with endovascular therapy use. Results—: Of 1087 hospitals, 454 provided endovascular therapy to ≥1 patient in the study period. From 2003 to 2012, proportion of hospitals providing endovascular therapy increased by 1.6% per year (from 12.9% to 28.9%; P P P =0.002); and from late 2010, reduction in symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (11% in 2010 to 5% in 2013; P P P <0.0001). Trends for these outcomes persist in the analyses adjusted for baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Conclusion—: The use of endovascular therapy increased modestly nationally from 2003 to 2012 and decreased in 2013. Clinical outcomes improved notably from 2010 to 2013, coincident with more experience and newer thrombectomy devices.