To evaluate the clinical utility of the RACE score in distinguishing stroke from stroke mimics and identifying large vessel occlusion (LVO) in emergency department settings, highlighting its potential impact on patient outcomes.
Key Findings:
303 patients included; 133 diagnosed with stroke (43.9%) and 170 as stroke mimics (56.1%).
Stroke patients were significantly older (69.13 vs. 61.67 years, p = 0.001).
Mean RACE score was higher in stroke patients (3.15 vs. 1.64, p < 0.001).
RACE scores ≥5 were more frequent in stroke cases (30.8% vs. 8.8%, p < 0.001).
LVO identified in 46 patients (15.4%); higher RACE scores in LVO cases (4.59 vs. 1.85, p < 0.001).
Logistic regression showed higher RACE scores significantly associated with LVO (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.38–1.83, p < 0.001).
Interpretation:
The RACE score effectively differentiates stroke from stroke mimics and identifies LVO, suggesting its utility in emergency department evaluations and potential to improve patient outcomes.
Limitations:
Retrospective design may introduce selection bias and confounding factors.
Single-center study limits generalizability of findings.
Conclusion:
The RACE score may serve as a practical adjunct to bedside neurological assessment in acute stroke workflows, aiding in the rapid differentiation of stroke from mimics and suggesting areas for future research.
