Study finds racial disparities in stroke treatment timing

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Research shows Asian, Black and Hispanic patients arrive at hospitals later than white patients despite shorter transport times.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 700,000 people have strokes each year.

When someone is experiencing a stroke, health professionals say every second counts. A new medical study found not everyone is accessing the life-saving care they need.

“The faster you get to the hospital, the higher the chance you are going to have a good recovery,” said Dr. Shumei Man of the Cleveland Clinic.

Man was part of a study that found stroke patients who are Asian, Black and Hispanic do not get to the hospital as quickly as white patients, despite shorter transportation times to the emergency room.

Man said it is vital for people to get to the hospital within 4 1/2 hours to get blood clot-busting medication. She said 2 million cells can die for every minute an artery is blocked.

“The observation that non-white people are less likely to get this medication, that is an important health care disparity. That means those people may have less of a chance to recover from the stroke or may have more disabilities,” Man said.

Man said delayed medical treatment can lead to people becoming paralyzed, losing vision or developing other severe disabilities.

According to Man, the delay in medical treatment comes from several issues. She said a big factor is that many people do not know the signs of stroke.

Signs of stroke can include facial drooping, arm weakness and speech difficulty. Other symptoms include numbness, confusion or trouble walking.

“When people get these symptoms, they may not call 911 immediately; instead, they may wait for their family to get to their house, or they may wait to see if it gets better by itself,” Man said.

She said other factors can include language barriers, financial concerns and immigration status.

Man said medical professionals are now working on more culturally tailored stroke education. She said all members of a family should be educated on the signs of a stroke and never hesitate to call 911.