Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Who Receive Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Demonstrate Favorable In‐Hospital Outcomes

BACKGROUND: Use of inpatient brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with acute ischemic stroke is highly institution dependent and has been associated with increased length and cost of hospital stay. We examined whether inpatient brain MRI in patients with acute ischemic stroke is associated with improved clinical outcomes to justify its resource requirements. METHODS AND RESULTS: The National Inpatient Sample database was queried retrospectively to find 94 003 patients who were admitted for acute ischemic stroke and then received inpatient brain MRI between 2012 and 2014. Multivariable regression analysis was performed with respect to a control group to assess for differences in the rates of inpatient mortality and complications, as well as the length and cost of hospital stay based on brain MRI use. Inpatient brain MRI was independently associated with lower rates of inpatient mortality (1.67% versus 3.09%; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.60; 95% CI, 0.53–0.68; P<0.001), gastrostomy (2.28% versus 2.89%; adjusted OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.73–0.93; P<0.001), and mechanical ventilation (1.97% versus 2.82%; adjusted OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.60–0.77; P<0.001). Brain MRI was independently associated with ≈0.32 days (8%) and $1131 (11%) increase in the total length (P<0.001) and cost (P<0.001) of hospital stay, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Inpatient brain MRI in patients with acute ischemic stroke is associated with substantial decrease in the rates of inpatient mortality and complications, at the expense of marginally increased length and cost of hospitalization.