LAUSR

Background: Reducing the burden stroke in Latin America (LATAM) is imperative. Stroke remains the first or second leading cause of death in LATAM. The Declaration of Gramado crafted in 2018 established priorities for stroke care in the region. Understanding the design and implementation of acute stroke systems of care at a local level is critical to guide health policy, clinical research, and education resources. Young neurologists are at the forefront of these efforts. ALATAC (Alianza joven LATinoamericana contra el ACv) is an organization of young neurologists in LATAM that uses innovative online communication strategies (social media and instant messaging) to examine and resolve disparities in stroke care in the region. Methods: An 11-question survey was sent to 76 members of ALATAC via email and instant messaging (WhatsApp). The survey queried demographic, geographic information, acute stroke treatment and availability of stroke unit data. Results: 76 young neurologists from LATAM and Spain were surveyed. 54 neurologists from 13 countries took the survey (71% response rate) (see graph). 16 (29.6%) identified as woman and 38 (70.4%) as man. 43 (79.6%) are between 31-40 years of age. 31 (57.4%) practice in more than 1 hospital and 21 (38.9%) do not have a stroke unit in their hospitals. Each neurologist sees a mean of 10 stroke patients per week (range 0-40); the majority had access to intravenous thrombolytics 53 (98.1%), but 12 (22.2%) do not have mechanical thrombectomy available at their hospitals. Conclusions: ALATAC is professional movement designed to examine and resolve stroke disparities via new communication technologies enabling real time collaboration. Future ALATAC efforts will develop peer to peer mentorship, networking, clinical research, and implementation of evidence-based medicine aiming to reduce stroke burden in LATAM. This study provides introductory, baseline data to better define the stroke care in LATAM