Research Project
10290172
Project Summary: Hypertension is the most important risk factor for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, and reduction in blood pressure (BP) after stroke is associated with reduced risk of stroke recurrence1-4. However, for the majority of stroke survivors (SS), hypertension remains poorly controlled early after an incident stroke.5-7 In the United States, Black and Hispanic SS are more likely to have poorly controlled risk factors after stroke compared to White SS, and Black and Hispanic SS have higher rates of stroke recurrence compared to White SS.5-11 Prior efforts to reduce racial disparities in BP control among SS have been uniformly unsuccessful.12 Multicomponent care models that include multidisciplinary approaches show promise for improving risk factor control after stroke.13, 14 Social determinants of health (SDOH) help to explain racial disparities in BP control and stroke recurrence, therefore multidisciplinary post-stroke care models that target SDOH may be key to decreasing disparities in BP control.5, 7, 15 Limited access to post-stroke outpatient care contributes to challenges in developing system-level interventions for post-stroke BP control. Telemedicine and telemonitoring may be ideal approaches for improving access to care in SS. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to rapid expansion of telemedicine for post-acute care in stroke survivors; however, its effectiveness is unproven. Based on preliminary data at our center, we propose a randomized trial testing an integrated multidisciplinary telehealth intervention, the Video-based Intervention to Reduce Treatment and OUtcome Disparities in Adults Living with Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (VIRTUAL), in SS recently discharged home after inpatient hospitalization for ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, or transient ischemic attack. The intervention will include post-discharge telehealth visits by a multidisciplinary team, social risk assessments to facilitate social risk-targeted and social risk-informed care, and home BP telemonitoring and management. The care team includes neurology providers (physician and nurse practitioner), a pharmacist, and a social worker. Standard care will include follow-up with a neurologist and primary care provider and pharmacist-assisted BP adjustment. We aim to assess 1) the impact of the intervention on BP control 6 months following stroke assessed with ambulatory BP monitoring; 2) the impact of the intervention on recurrent vascular events 1 year after stroke; 3) the impact of the intervention on health services access and utilization following stroke; 4) moderating effects of race / ethnicity on the impact of the intervention on BP control, vascular events, and health services utilization; 5) the relationship between additional measured SDOH and primary and secondary outcomes.
