Location, Location, Location: How Where We Live Affects Stroke Outcomes

disparities Editorials geospatial analysis social determinants stroke outcomes D espite many advancements in stroke therapies over the past 3 decades, stroke remains a leading global cause of death and disability.1,2 Although the incidence and mortality from stroke have decreased in higher income countries over time, stroke incidence is increasing in low and lower-middle income countries, which now bear the greatest burden of stroke mortality.These trends vividly demonstrate that location matters when considering global stroke risk.Geographic differences in stroke risk and mortality in the United States further highlight that where one lives affects the risk of stroke.In the United States, decreases in stroke mortality have been largely attributed to improvements in management of stroke risk factors rather than increased use of acute interventions. 3 However, a recent study that showed decreases in US overall 90-day stroke mortality rates did show even greater decreases in mortality rates among those treated with mechanical thrombectomy.4 Given what we have learned about the impact of location on stroke risk, it is important to understand whether the impact of thrombectomy on stroke outcomes similarly varies by location.This study by Nguyen et al. evaluated the effect of living in a higher income zip code on long-term functional outcomes among patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy.They found that higher median income zip code was independently associated with better long-term functional outcomes