The influence of primary language on postoperative stroke outcomes

Language barriers have the potential to influence acute stroke outcomes. Thus, we examined postoperative stroke outcomes among non-English primary language speakers. 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. 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. 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. •The number of n-EPL in the United States is growing.•After postoperative stroke, n-EPL had a higher odds of feeding tube placement.•There were no other differences in postoperative stroke outcomes by language.•Targeting language barriers could improve patient-provider communication.