Sex Differences in Prehospital Identification of Large Vessel Occlusion in Patients with Suspected Stroke

on behalf of the LPSS and PRESTO Investigators, Mariam Ali*, Luuk Dekker, Jasper D. Daems, Mahsoem Ali, Erik W. Van Zwet, Ewout W. Steyerberg, Martijne H.C. Duvekot, T. Truc My Nguyen, Walid Moudrous, Ruben M. Van De Wijdeven, Marieke C. Visser, Karlijn F. De Laat, Henk Kerkhoff, Ido R. Van Den Wijngaard, Diederik W.J. Dippel, Bob Roozenbeek, Nyika D. Kruyt, Marieke J.H. Wermer

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Differences in clinical presentation of acute ischemic stroke between men and women may affect prehospital identification of anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (aLVO). We assessed sex differences in diagnostic performance of 8 prehospital scales to detect aLVO. 

    METHODS: We analyzed pooled individual patient data from 2 prospective cohort studies (LPSS [Leiden Prehospital Stroke Study] and PRESTO [Prehospital Triage of Patients With Suspected Stroke Study]) conducted in the Netherlands between 2018 and 2019, including consecutive patients ≥18 years suspected of acute stroke who presented within 6 hours after symptom onset. Ambulance paramedics assessed clinical items from 8 prehospital aLVO detection scales: Los Angeles Motor Scale, Rapid Arterial Occlusion Evaluation, Cincinnati Stroke Triage Assessment Tool, Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale, Prehospital Acute Stroke Severity, gaze-face-arm-speech-time, Conveniently Grasped Field Assessment Stroke Triage, and Face-Arm-Speech-Time Plus Severe Arm or Leg Motor Deficit. We assessed the diagnostic performance of these scales for identifying aLVO at prespecified cut points for men and women. 

    RESULTS: Of 2358 patients with suspected stroke (median age, 73 years; 47% women), 231 (10%) had aLVO (100/1114 [9%] women and 131/1244 [11%] men). The area under the curve of the scales ranged from 0.70 (95% CI, 0.65-0.75) to 0.77 (95% CI, 0.73-0.82) in women versus 0.69 (95% CI, 0.64-0.73) to 0.75 (95% CI, 0.71-0.79) in men. Positive predictive values ranged from 0.23 (95% CI, 0.20-0.27) to 0.29 (95% CI, 0.26-0.31) in women versus 0.29 (95% CI, 0.24-0.33) to 0.37 (95% CI, 0.32-0.43) in men. Negative predictive values were similar (0.95 [95% CI, 0.94-0.96] to 0.98 [95% CI, 0.97-0.98] in women versus 0.94 [95% CI, 0.93-0.95] to 0.96 [95% CI, 0.94-0.97] in men). Sensitivity of the scales was slightly higher in women than in men (0.53 [95% CI, 0.43-0.63] to 0.76 [95% CI, 0.68-0.84] versus 0.49 [95% CI, 0.40-0.57] to 0.63 [95% CI, 0.55-0.73]), whereas specificity was lower (0.79 [95% CI, 0.76-0.81] to 0.87 [95% CI, 0.84-0.89] versus 0.82 [95% CI, 0.79-0.84] to 0.90 [95% CI, 0.88-0.91]). Rapid arterial occlusion evaluation showed the highest positive predictive values in both sexes (0.29 in women and 0.37 in men), reflecting the different event rates. 

    CONCLUSIONS: aLVO scales show similar diagnostic performance in both sexes. The rapid arterial occlusion evaluation scale may help optimize prehospital transport decision-making in men as well as in women with suspected stroke.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)548-554
    Number of pages7
    JournalStroke
    Volume55
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Mar-2024

    Keywords

    • acute ischemic stroke
    • emergency medical services
    • large vessel occlusion
    • sex
    • thrombectomy

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