Antihypertensive use for stroke in United States emergency departments

OBJECTIVE: Timely emergency department (ED) control of hypertension in the acute phase of stroke is associated with improved outcomes. It is unclear how emergency physicians use antihypertensive medications to treat severe hypertension associated with stroke. We sought to determine national patterns of antihypertensive use associated with ED visits for stroke in the United States. METHODS: We analyzed data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) 2008–2017. We included ED visits associated with ischemic stroke (ICD9 433–434, ICD10 I630–I639) or hemorrhagic stroke (ICD9 430–432, ICD10 I600–I629). We estimated the number and proportions of stroke ED visits with triage blood pressure meeting treatment thresholds (triage systolic blood pressure [SBP] ≥180 mm Hg). We identified the frequency of antihypertensive use, as well as the most commonly used agents. RESULTS: Between 2008–2017, of a total 135,012,819 ED visits, 619,791 were associated with stroke (78.3% ischemic strokes and 21.7% hemorrhage strokes). Of all stroke visits, 21.8% received antihypertensive medications. Of the identified visits, 9.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.0%, 13.1%) ischemic stroke visits and 58.2% (95% CI = 49.0%, 66.9%) hemorrhagic stroke visits met criteria for BP reduction. A total of 47.6% (95% CI = 29.1%, 66.7%) of eligible ischemic stroke visits and 41.5% (95% CI = 30.5%, 53.3%) of eligible hemorrhagic strokes visits received antihypertensives. The most common agents used in ischemic stroke were beta‐blockers, calcium‐channel blockers, and ACE inhibitors. The most common agents used in hemorrhagic stroke included calcium‐channel blockers, beta‐blockers, and vasodilators. CONCLUSION: In this national sample, less than half of strokes presenting to the ED with hypertension received antihypertensive therapy.