Introduction: Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for the effective treatment of ischemic stroke. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of stroke knowledge among patients and caregivers on hospital arrival, clinical outcomes, and healthcare costs.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 219 patients with ischemic stroke and their family members. Awareness of stroke was measured using a structured questionnaire, and the participants were divided into two groups: those with a high level of awareness of stroke and those with a low level of awareness of stroke. The primary outcome measures were time to hospital arrival, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at 1 and 3 months, and the total treatment cost within 3 months.
Results: Patients in the high-awareness group presented to the hospital much earlier (58±21.8 min vs. 185±40.3 min, p=0.001), displayed better functional outcome at 1 month (mRS: 1.64 vs. 2.19, p=0.01) and at 3 months (mRS: 1.52 vs. 1.95, p=0.01) and lower treatment costs ($998 vs. $1679, p=0.001). Interestingly, calling the emergency service as a first response was associated with significantly lower costs. On the other hand, low awareness was associated with delayed intervention, worse clinical outcomes, and greater economic strain.
Conclusion: A better understanding of the signs of a stroke by patients and their caregivers leads to faster treatment, improved recovery, and lower costs. Stroke awareness can be enhanced through public health efforts, potentially leading to a significant reduction in the clinical and economic burden of stroke.
Keywords: Awareness, economic burden, hospital arrival time, ischemic