A Prehospital Acute Stroke Trial has Only Modest Impact on Enrollment in Concurrent, Post-arrival-Recruiting Stroke Trials

Abstract Background Because “time is brain,” acute stroke trials are migrating to the prehospital setting. The impact upon enrollment in post-arrival trials of earlier recruitment in a prehospital trial requires delineation. Methods We analyzed all patients recruited into acute and prevention stroke trials during an 8-year period when an academic medical center (AMC) was participating in a prehospital treatment trial – the NIH Field Administration of Stroke Treatment – Magnesium (FAST-MAG) study. Results During the study period, in addition to FAST-MAG, the AMC participated in 33 post-arrival stroke trials: 27 for acute cerebral ischemia, one for intracerebral hemorrhage, and 5 secondary prevention trials. Throughout the study period, the AMC was recruiting for at least 3 concurrent post-arrival acute trials. Among 199 patients enrolled in acute stroke trials, 98 (49%) were in FAST-MAG and 101 (51%) in concurrent, post-arrival acute trials. Among FAST-MAG patients, 67% were not eligible for any concurrent acute, post-arrival trial. Of 134 patients eligible for post-arrival acute trials, 101 (76%) were enrolled in post-arrival trials and 32 (24%) in FAST-MAG. Leading reasons FAST-MAG patients were ineligible for post-arrival acute trials were: NIHSS too low (23.4%), intracranial hemorrhage (17.9%), IV tPA used in standard management (9.0%), NIHSS too high (7.1%), and age too high (5.2%). Conclusions A prehospital hyperacute stroke trial with wide entry criteria reduced only modestly, by one-fourth, enrollment into concurrently active, post-arrival stroke trials. Simultaneous performance of prehospital and post-arrival acute and secondary prevention stroke trials in research networks is feasible.