Figure 1:
Flow Diagram of Derivation of Participant Cohort
*Not enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B fee-for service 12-months before and after enrolment provided the enrolees were alive for 12 months after AIS hospitalization
Abbreviation: AIS is acute ischemic stroke
We excluded those who died during the hospitalization, those who died within 7 days of hospital discharge, and those with extreme lengths of stay for index stroke hospitalization (>30 days suggesting extreme disease severity) because they are not eligible for the procedures.