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Updated: Jun 27, 2025
Utilizing Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Improve Language Function in Stroke Patients with Chronic Non-fluent Aphasia
Published on: July 2, 2013
The influence of primary language on postoperative stroke outcomes
Emna Bakillah1, Adora Moneme1, Danielle Brown2
1Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Center for Surgery and Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Background:
Language barriers have the potential to influence acute stroke outcomes. Thus, we examined postoperative stroke outcomes among non-English primary language speakers.
Methods:
Utilizing the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database (2016-2019), we conducted a retrospective cohort study of adults diagnosed with a postoperative stroke in Michigan, Maryland, and New Jersey. Patients were classified by primary language spoken: English (EPL) or non-English (n-EPL). The primary outcome was hospital length-of-stay. Secondary outcomes included stroke intervention, feeding tube, tracheostomy, mortality, cost, disposition, and readmission. Propensity-score matching and post-match regression were used to quantify outcomes.
Results:
Among 3078 postoperative stroke patients, 6.2 % were n-EPL. There were no differences in length-of-stay or secondary outcomes, except for higher odds of feeding tube placement (OR 1.95, 95 % CI 1.10-3.47, p = 0.0227) in n-EPL.
Conclusions:
Postoperative stroke outcomes were comparable by primary language spoken. However, higher odds of feeding tube placement in n-EPL may suggest differences in patient-provider communication.
