BACKGROUND: Ethnic differences have been reported with regard to several medical therapies. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between ethnicity and thrombolysis in @entity64 @entity1 . METHODS: Retrospective single-centre study. @entity1 admitted with an @entity385 between 2003 and 2008 were included. Ethnicity was determined by self-identification and stratified into white and non-white (all other ethnicities). The main outcome measure was the difference in thrombolysis rate between white and non-white @entity1 . Logistic regression analysis was used to identify potential confounders of the relation between ethnicity and thrombolysis. RESULTS: 510 @entity1 were included, 392 (77%) white and 118 (23%) non-white. Non-white @entity1 were younger (median 69 vs. 60 years, p<0.001), had a higher blood pressure at admission (median systolic 150 vs. 160 mmHg, p=0.02) and a lower @entity64 severity (median NIHSS 5 vs. 4, p=0.04). Non-white @entity1 were significantly less often treated with thrombolysis compared to white @entity1 (odds ratio 0.34, 95% CI 0.17-0.71), which was partly explained by a later arrival at the hospital. After adjustment for potential confounders (late arrival, age, blood pressure above upper limit for thrombolysis, and oral anticoagulation use), a trend towards a lower thrombolysis rate in non-whites remained (adjusted odds ratio 0.38, 95% CI 0.13 to 1.16). CONCLUSIONS: Non-white @entity64 @entity1 less often received thrombolysis than white @entity1 , partly as a result of a delay in presentation. In this single centre study, potential bias due to hospital differences or insurance status could be ruled out as a cause. The magnitude of the difference is worrisome and requires further investigation. Modifiable causes, such as @entity1 delay, awareness of @entity64 symptoms, language barriers and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors, should be addressed specifically in these ethnic groups in @entity64 .

Ethnicity and thrombolysis in XXXX : a hospital based study in Amsterdam.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity64 :: ('MESH:D020521', 'Disease') :: ['stroke', 'future stroke campaigns'] @entity385 :: ('MESH:D002544', 'Disease') :: ['ischemic stroke']
@entity385 :: (MESH:D002544,Disease) :: ['ischemic stroke']
