Stroke Care Performance in the Baltic States: A Multicenter Registry‐Based Observational Study.
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| Title: | Stroke Care Performance in the Baltic States: A Multicenter Registry‐Based Observational Study. |
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| Authors: | Masiliūnas, Rytis (AUTHOR), Zaboras, Edgaras (AUTHOR), Daškevičiūtė, Aurelija (AUTHOR), Jurjāns, Kristaps (AUTHOR), Kõrv, Janika (AUTHOR), Vibo, Riina (AUTHOR), Matijošaitis, Vaidas (AUTHOR), Vaitkus, Antanas (AUTHOR), Teivāne, Agnete (AUTHOR), Grosmane, Arta (AUTHOR), Miglāne, Evija (AUTHOR), Karelis, Guntis (AUTHOR), Jatužis, Dalius (AUTHOR), Šumskienė, Vitalija (AUTHOR), Gross-Paju, Katrin (AUTHOR), Sikk, Katrin (AUTHOR), Samarüütel, Inga (AUTHOR), Antsov, Katrin (AUTHOR), Taroza, Saulius (AUTHOR), Gudžiūnas, Vaidotas (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. 6/25/2026, Vol. 2026, p1-11. 11p. |
| Subjects: | Ischemic stroke, Thrombolytic therapy, Atrial fibrillation, Stroke patients, Rehabilitation, Endovascular surgery, Health equity |
| Geographic Terms: | Baltic States, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia |
| Abstract: | Background: Stroke remains a major public health challenge in Europe with regional disparities. Although the Baltic states share similar demographic and socioeconomic profiles, they differ in stroke care networks and treatment infrastructure. To date, no direct cross‐country comparison of stroke care has been published. Methods: We conducted a multicenter cross‐sectional analysis of ischemic stroke patients, prospectively recorded in the Registry of Stroke Care Quality (RES‐Q) by 23 of 26 primary and comprehensive stroke centers across the Baltic states during at least 1 month of the first quarter of 2022. Data on demographic characteristics, stroke risk factors, acute management, and discharge destinations were compared with assess intercountry differences. Results: A total of 897 ischemic stroke patients were analyzed: 479 from Lithuania, 294 from Latvia, and 124 from Estonia. Although atrial fibrillation (AF) rates were uniformly high (overall 37.2%), anticoagulant use at stroke onset among patients with known AF was significantly higher in Estonia (72.7%) compared with Latvia (34.9%) and Lithuania (48.8%, p = 0.032). Estonia reported the highest intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) rates (44.4%), whereas Lithuania achieved the highest endovascular treatment (EVT) rates (17.7%). In contrast, Latvia had the lowest recanalization therapy rates (IVT 21.1%, EVT 5.1%). Rehabilitation access varied strikingly: Only 2.7% of Latvian patients were transferred to inpatient rehabilitation compared with 30.5% in Lithuania and 20.2% in Estonia (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This first comprehensive comparison of stroke care in the Baltic states highlights a high AF burden and important disparities in recanalization therapy and poststroke rehabilitation pathways. Data Access Statement: The data supporting this study′s findings are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Acta Neurologica Scandinavica is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Background: Stroke remains a major public health challenge in Europe with regional disparities. Although the Baltic states share similar demographic and socioeconomic profiles, they differ in stroke care networks and treatment infrastructure. To date, no direct cross‐country comparison of stroke care has been published. Methods: We conducted a multicenter cross‐sectional analysis of ischemic stroke patients, prospectively recorded in the Registry of Stroke Care Quality (RES‐Q) by 23 of 26 primary and comprehensive stroke centers across the Baltic states during at least 1 month of the first quarter of 2022. Data on demographic characteristics, stroke risk factors, acute management, and discharge destinations were compared with assess intercountry differences. Results: A total of 897 ischemic stroke patients were analyzed: 479 from Lithuania, 294 from Latvia, and 124 from Estonia. Although atrial fibrillation (AF) rates were uniformly high (overall 37.2%), anticoagulant use at stroke onset among patients with known AF was significantly higher in Estonia (72.7%) compared with Latvia (34.9%) and Lithuania (48.8%, p = 0.032). Estonia reported the highest intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) rates (44.4%), whereas Lithuania achieved the highest endovascular treatment (EVT) rates (17.7%). In contrast, Latvia had the lowest recanalization therapy rates (IVT 21.1%, EVT 5.1%). Rehabilitation access varied strikingly: Only 2.7% of Latvian patients were transferred to inpatient rehabilitation compared with 30.5% in Lithuania and 20.2% in Estonia (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This first comprehensive comparison of stroke care in the Baltic states highlights a high AF burden and important disparities in recanalization therapy and poststroke rehabilitation pathways. Data Access Statement: The data supporting this study′s findings are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 00016314 |
| DOI: | 10.1155/ane/5552328 |
