Stroke management and outcomes in low-income and lower-middle-income countries: a meta-analysis of 8535 patients.
low-income countries, lower-middle-income countries
diagnostic tools
high-income countries
stroke mortality, poststroke complications
Abstract
Strokes affect almost 13 million new people each year, and whereas the outcomes of stroke have improved over the past several decades in high-income countries, the same cannot be seen in low-income and lower-middle-income countries. This is the first study to identify the availability of diagnostic tools along with the rates of stroke mortality and other poststroke complications in low-income and lower-middle-income countries. A review of the literature was completed with a search of the MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases, with adherence to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Studies were included if they reported any outcomes of stroke in low-income and lower-middle-income countries as designated by the World Bank classification. A meta-analysis calculating pooled prevalence rates of diagnostic characteristics and stroke outcomes was completed for all endpoint variables. A total of 19 studies were included, of which 6 came from Ethiopia, 3 from Zambia, and 2 each from Tanzania and Iran. Single studies from Zimbabwe, Botswana, Senegal, Cameroon, Uganda, and Sierra Leone were included. A total of 5265 (61.7%) patients had an ischemic stroke, 2124 (24.9%) had hemorrhagic stroke, with the remaining 1146 (13.4%) having an unknown type. Among 6 studies the pooled percentage of patients presenting to hospital within 1 day was 48.37% (95% CI 38.59%-58.27%; I2 = 97.0%, p < 0.01). The pooled in-hospital mortality rate was 19.81% (95% CI 15.26%-25.31%; I2 = 91%, p < 0.01), but was higher in a hemorrhagic subgroup (27.07% [95% CI 22.52%-32.15%; I2 = 54%, p = 0.05]) when compared to an ischemic group (13.16% [95% CI 8.60%-19.62%; I2 = 87%, p < 0.01]). The 30-day pooled mortality rate was 23.24% (95% CI 14.17%-35.70%; I2 = 93%, p < 0.01). At 30 days, the functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) pooled rate was 13.10% (95% CI 7.50%-21.89%; I2 = 82%, p < 0.01). A severe healthcare disparity is present in low-income and lower-middle-income countries, where there is delayed diagnosis of strokes and increased rates of poor clinical outcomes for these patients.