Table 4. Univariate analyses, showing the associations between variables and in-time/late arrival.
| Variables | In time arrival (.4.5 h) N=163 (%) | Late arrival (>4.5 h) N=358 (%) | OR (95% CI) | Univariate P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, median (years) | 78.6 | 77.0 | 1.01 (1.00-1.02) | 0.155 |
| Age ≥65 | 82.8 | 77.9 | 0.73 (0.45-1.18) | 0.200 |
| Age >80 | 43.6 | 38.0 | 0.79 (0.54-1.15) | 0.228 |
| Female Gender | 50.3 | 48 | 1.10 (0.76-1.58) | 0.632 |
| Australian born | 71.4 | 74.6 | 1.18 (0.75-1.85) | 0.487 |
| English speaking | 92.4 | 90.4 | 0.77 (0.39-1.54) | 0.457 |
| Hypertension | 62.6 | 67.3 | 1.23 (0.83-1.82) | 0.290 |
| Ischemic heart disease | 25.2 | 25.2 | 1.01 (0.66- 1.56) | 0.948 |
| Diabetes | 19.0 | 26.0 | 1.49 (0.94-2.38) | 0.084 |
| Atrial fibrillation | 33.7 | 29.1 | 0.81 (0.54-1.19) | 0.281 |
| Hypercholesterolemia | 47.2 | 45.3 | 0.93 (0.64-1.33) | 0.93 (0.64-1.33) |
| PVD | 6.1 | 5.9 | 0.95 (0.44-2.08) | 0.904 |
| Cancer | 15.3 | 16.5 | 1.09 (0.65-1.82) | 0.742 |
| Dementia | 12.9 | 8.4 | 0.62 (0.34-1.11) | 0.109 |
| Previous stroke/ TIA | 34.4 | 32.7 | 0.93 (0.63-1.37) | 0.707 |
| Tobacco use (current/past) | 28.2 | 29.3 | 1.05 (0.70-1.59) | 0.796 |
| High Alcohol use | 8.0 | 6.4 | 0.79 (0.39-1.61) | 0.518 |
| Pre-morbid mRS ≤1 | 89.8 | 89.9 | 1.01 (0.30-3.33) | 0.992 |
| Pre-morbid independence in ADLs | 80.3 | 86.3 | 1.56 (0.93-2.56) | 0.085 |
| Alone at onset | 34.8 | 58.8 | 2.63 (1.72-4.17) | 0.000* |
| Action taken when symptoms were discovered: immediate call for ambulance | 66.9 | 34.9 | 0.27 (0.18-0.39) | 0.000* |
| Action taken when symptoms were discovered: went to hospital | 7.4 | 4.7 | 0.63 (0.29-1.35) | 0.228 |
| Patient waited for symptoms to improve | 16.7 | 62.9 | 8.33 (5.00-14.29) | 0.000* |
| Pre-hospital consultation | 3.7 | 18.4 | 5.88 (2.5-14.29) | 0.000* |
| Weekend admission | 30.1 | 25.7 | 1.25 (0.79-1.96) | 0.341 |
| Mode of arrival by Ambulance | 86.8 | 76.7 | 0.5 (0.30-0.84) | 0.008* |
| Admission: NIHSS ≤22† | 95.2 | 100 | 0.78 (0.68-0.91) | 0.461 |
| Admission: GCS ≤9‡ | 5 | 3.25 | 0.62 (0.25-1.59) | 0.314 |
| Facial droop, drooling, slurred speech | 73.6 | 52.5 | 0.40 (0.26-0.60) | 0.000* |
| Limb weakness | 63.2 | 52.8 | 0.65 (0.44-0.95) | 0.027* |
| Confusion | 1.7 | 13.6 | 4.17 (2.04-8.33) | 0.000* |
| Unsteady gait | 8 | 23.5 | 3.57 (1.92-6.67) | 0.000* |
| Fall/ collapse at onset | 34.4 | 29.6 | 0.81 (0.54-1.19) | 0.278 |
PVD, peripheral vascular disease; TIA, transient ischaemic attack; mRS, modified Rankin scale; ADL, activities of daily living; NIHSS, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; GSC, Glasgow Coma Scale.
† data available for only 53 patients
‡ data available for 494 patients
* Statistical significance at P<0.05