Effect of coastal and island geographic environments on patients with acute ischemic stroke in southeastern China

Abstract

Objective To analyze the geographic variation in characteristics and treatment processes of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in coastal, island, and inland regions. Methods We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of data from patients with AIS in southeastern China. We collected demographic and clinical information, including the time from stroke onset to treatment for those receiving reperfusion therapy, using a time-tracking table. Results Among 8069 patients with AIS, 26.6% received reperfusion therapy, with a higher proportion undergoing endovascular therapy in maritime hospitals than in inland hospitals (14.2% vs. 6.7%). Maritime hospitals had a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation (15.1% vs. 11.9%) and cardioembolism (17.2% vs. 13.6%) than inland hospitals. Patients in maritime hospitals had shorter in-hospital processing times than those in inland hospitals (39 vs. 46 minutes). Island hospitals showed different patterns, with a shorter time from stroke onset to emergency room arrival (80 vs. 120 minutes) but a longer in-hospital process time (51 vs. 36 minutes), than coastline hospitals. Conclusions Our study suggests geographic variation in AIS characteristics and treatment processes across southeastern China, emphasizing the need for region-specific strategies. These findings are essential for tailoring public health policies and guidelines to improve stroke outcomes in various regions.