Home deaths from ischemic stroke surged across the US, especially in rural and minority populations, highlighting gaps in end-of-life care access, a new study shows.

Hypertension is the most important modifiable risk factor for ischemic stroke, and antihypertensive treatment is of paramount importance to reduce the incidence of stroke mortality and morbidity.

Over the last two decades, ischemic stroke mortality rates in the U.S. have grown, with almost 3 in 10 deaths occurring at home, and increases particularly among racial minorities and rural residents.