Disparities in the use of mechanical thrombectomy alone compared with adjunctive intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke in the United States

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: For patients with large-vessel occlusion, mechanical thrombectomy (MT) without IV-tPA is a proved strategy. The relative benefit of direct MT versus MT1IV-tPA for patients with indications for IV-tPA is being actively investigated. We used a national inpatient database to assess trends in use and patient profiles after MT1IV-tPA versus mechanical thrombectomy alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample was queried between 2013 and 2018 for patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke. Patients who received mechanical thrombectomy alone were compared with those who underwent MT1IV-tPA. The Cochran-Armitage test was conducted to assess the linear trend of use of mechanical thrombectomy alone among the entire cohort and between admissions involving non-White and White patients. All estimates were nationalized using discharge weights. RESULTS: A total of 89,645 weighted admissions were identified pertaining to mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke from 2013 to 2018. Of these, 59,935 (66.9%) admissions involved mechanical thrombectomy alone. There was an increase in the trend toward the use of mechanical thrombectomy alone (trend: 3.26%; P<.001) per year. Multivariable regression analysis regarding patient profiles indicated that patients who identified as Black (OR = 0.83, P =.001) or Hispanic (OR = 0.79; P<.001) were more likely to undergo mechanical thrombectomy alone compared with those who identified as White. There was no statistically significant difference in the slope between non-White and White populations receiving mechanical thrombectomy alone (trend: 10.93% in favor of non-White; P =.096). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that mechanical thrombectomy alone was used more frequently than MT1IV-tPA among patients with acute ischemic stroke. The disparity between those who identify as White and non-White persisted across the years, though it is closing.