Abstract WMP42: Differences In Antihypertensive Prescribing And Smoking Cessation Counseling After Acute Ischemic Stroke 2003-2016: The National Regards Cohort Study

Background: Limited population-based evidence is available about risk factor management following stroke. We examined age, race, sex, and regional (Stroke Belt vs. other) differences in discharge antihypertensive prescribing and smoking cessation counseling after ischemic stroke using population level data from a national cohort study. Methods: Medical record data was abstracted from 1042 participants enrolled in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study who had an adjudicated ischemic stroke between 2003-2016. Participants with a history of prior stroke, in-hospital death, hospice discharge, incomplete records, and non-smokers for smoking cessation analyses were excluded resulting in 798 cases for discharge antihypertensive prescribing and 117 cases for smoking cessation counseling in the final analyses. Differences were assessed using modified Poisson regression adjusting for patient and hospital level factors. Results: Overall, 86% received discharge antihypertensives while 50% of current smokers received counseling at discharge. Participants who were older, female, had a greater number of CV risk factors, and higher BMIs were significantly more likely to receive discharge antihypertensives compared to younger participants, males, those with fewer risk factors and lower BMIs, respectively (age RR 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.09; female sex RR 1.09; 95% CI, 1.03-1.16; total risk factors RR 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04-1.10; BMI RR 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.01). There was an increasing trend in receipt of smoking cessation counseling over time (RR 1.12; 95% CI, 1.04-1.21). Conclusions: Discharge antihypertensive prescribing varies modestly by patient-level variables. There were no differences in smoking cessation counseling by age, sex, race, or study region. Smoking cessation counseling has improved over time, yet only half of smokers received cessation counseling.