Dr. Andrea Jones, neurology resident and post-doctoral fellow in the UBC Department of Medicine, is the lead author of a groundbreaking study published in Stroke, exploring how social and clinical factors interact to influence recovery after stroke.
Using advanced analytics and complexity science, Dr. Jones and her team analyzed data from nearly 3 million patients across the United States to uncover how social determinants—such as homelessness, race, poverty, and access to health insurance—affect functional outcomes after stroke.
The study found that social factors play a critical and complex role in stroke recovery, with homelessness, Black race, and being uninsured emerging as central drivers of poorer outcomes. In contrast, higher education levels and reduced county-level poverty were linked to better access to timely care.
“This work helps identify the most high-impact targets for future interventions,” says Dr. Jones. “Health insurance and stable housing stood out as leverage points that could significantly improve outcomes after stroke.”
Published findings from this project follow Dr. Jones’ recent international recognition as the 2024 winner of the American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines Stroke Data Challenge.
This research exemplifies the UBC Department of Medicine’s commitment to advancing health equity, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and generating data-driven insights that inform better care.
As stroke remains the second-leading cause of death and disability worldwide, studies like this highlight the urgent need for bundled, system-level solutions to address persistent disparities in access, care, and recovery.
Read more about Dr. Andrea Jones funding source: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Research Excellence, Diversity and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award
Read the article: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STROKEAHA.124.048336