Abstract TP172: Impact of Rural Outreach Education on Racial and Age Trends in Telestroke-Treated Patients in Arkansas, 2019–2024

Background: Racial and age-related disparities in stroke incidence and treatment access remain significant in rural states. Since 2019, the UAMS Institute for Digital Health&Innovation (IDHI) Telestroke Program has expanded targeted stroke awareness and outreach in rural Arkansas, focusing on high-burden, underserved populations. The program provides 24/7 vascular neurology expertise through a statewide hub-and-spoke network, enabling rapid thrombolytic treatment at hospitals without on-site stroke specialists. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed telestroke consults treated with intravenous thrombolytics from 2019–2024, stratified by race (African-American, White, Hispanic, Asian), gender, and median age. Outreach included community education events, EMS training, and hospital workflow optimization in rural regions. Results: From 2019–2024, lytic-treated African-American patients increased from 41 to 101 (+146%), with median ages 58–63 years. White patients increased from 265 to 655 (+147%), median ages 67–69 years. Hispanic patients rose from 1 to 13 (+1200%), median ages 46–74 years. Asian patients comprised 0–3 annually. Across all years, African-American and Hispanic patients were treated at younger median ages than White patients; for 2020–2024, age differences between races were statistically significant (F=16.42, p<0.0001). Mean ages also differed significantly by gender across races (p=0.0009), with variation in direction and magnitude by race group. Conclusions: Rural stroke awareness campaigns coincided with increased thrombolysis across all racial groups, with particularly notable gains among African-American and Hispanic patients. Pairing telestroke services with targeted community outreach may improve equity in acute stroke care by fostering earlier hospital arrival and greater access to time-sensitive interventions.