Racial, socioeconomic, and geographic disparities in acute stroke care in the United States

Despite a new era of acute stroke interventions, barriers to stroke care persist in the United States and fall along racial and ethnic lines. People of color are less likely to be evaluated, diagnosed, and treated in a timely fashion, resulting in higher stroke morbidity and mortality.1 In considering racial and ethnic disparities in stroke care, it is crucial to recognize the wide-ranging socioeconomic and geographic factors that directly influence access to care, especially at high-volume stroke centers. Once we develop a broader understanding of the effect of disparities on acute stroke care, we can systematically and comprehensively address these factors.