A recent study published in Neurology® Clinical Practice revealed that poor access to food, living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, and lack of social support can influence stroke outcomes. The study, conducted by the American Academy of Neurology, found that individuals with these negative social factors had better survival rates after a stroke, although it does not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

The research focused on individuals with intracerebral hemorrhage, a condition resulting from bleeding in the brain. It highlighted the significance of social determinants of health, such as socioeconomic status, employment, social support networks, and healthcare access, in influencing recovery and survival rates following health conditions like stroke.

Dr. Fady T. Charbel from the University of Illinois Chicago, who led the study, emphasized the complex interplay between social factors and health outcomes. The study involved a large sample size of 481,754 participants, analyzing data on social factors like food insecurity, neighborhood indicators, and support networks.

Among the participants, those who experienced negative social factors showed higher rates of movement problems, feeding tube dependency, breathing tube necessity, and hospice care. Recovery within 30 days of stroke and survival rates at 90 days and one year post-stroke were significantly influenced by these social disparities.

Individuals with negative social factors had a higher likelihood of needing life-sustaining interventions like feeding and breathing tubes, potentially contributing to their better survival rates. The study underscores the importance of addressing root causes such as poverty and inadequate healthcare to improve post-stroke care.

While the study did not include racial or ethnic data, its findings shed light on the impact of social factors on stroke outcomes, urging healthcare providers to consider the broader social context when treating stroke patients.