ABSTRACT
RESUMEN Introducción: La pandemia ocasionada por la aparición del SARS-CoV-2, ha transformado la práctica médica y ha alterado gravemente la formación de los médicos residentes a nivel mundial. Desde la Sociedad Española de Neurología (SEN) se ha querido conocer el grado de repercusión que la COVID-19 ha tenido en el ámbito formativo entre los residentes de neurología. Método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal mediante el envío de una encuesta por e-mail a todos los residentes de neurología miembros de dicha Sociedad. Se incluyeron preguntas relativas a aspectos demográficos, actividad asistencial y repercusión a nivel formativo y personal durante la pandemia, así como su previsión sobre el futuro laboral “post-COVID”. Resultados: De 422 encuestas, respondió un total de 152 (36%) residentes, 79 mujeres (52%) y 73 hombres (48%). La distribución por año de residencia fue R4: 51 (33,6%), R3: 45 (29,6%), R2: 28 (18,4%) y R1: 28 (18,4%). La actividad de hospitalización se vio alterada en 139 (90,8%) casos. Consideraron que la situación afectaría negativamente a su formación 126 (82,8%) residentes, de los que 99 (64,7%) perdieron rotaciones no recuperables. Manifestaron deseo de alargar el periodo de residencia 101 (66%). Conclusiones: La pandemia ha tenido un gravísimo impacto en todo el sistema sanitario, siendo los médicos en formación uno de los colectivos más afectados. En los residentes de neurología ha provocado notables deficiencias de su actividad formativa y asistencial como consecuencia de la suspensión de rotaciones específicas. Un alto porcentaje manifestó deseo de ampliar el periodo de residencia. ABSTRACT Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed medical practice and severely disrupted the training of medical residents worldwide. The Spanish Society of Neurology conducted a study to assess its impact on the training of neurology residents in Spain. Methods: We performed a descriptive, cross-sectional study through a survey distributed by e-mail to all neurology residents belonging to the Society. The survey included questions on demographic variables, care activity, and personal and educational impact of the pandemic, as well as respondents’ expectations for the future of their work in the post-pandemic era. Results: Of 422 surveys sent, we received a total of 152 responses (36%);79 respondents (52%) were women and 73 (48%) were men. By year of residency, 51 respondents (33.6%) were in the fourth year, 45 (29.6%) in the third year, 28 (18.4%) in the second year, and 28 (18.4%) in the first year. A total of 139 respondents (90.8%) reported changes in hospital activity, and 126 (82.8%) considered the situation to have had a negative impact on their training, with 99 (64.7%) having lost non-recoverable rotations. Sixty-six percent of respondents (n = 101) expressed a desire to extend their residency period. Conclusions: The pandemic has had an extremely severe impact on all areas of the health system, with trainee physicians being one of the most affected groups. Among neurology residents, the crisis has caused significant shortcomings in their training and clinical activities, through the suspension of specific rotations. A high percentage of respondents wished to extend the residency period.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Spain has been one of the countries heavily stricken by COVID-19. But this epidemic has not affected all regions equally. We analyzed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital stroke admissions and in-hospital mortality in tertiary referral hospitals from North-West Spain. METHODS: Spanish multicenter retrospective observational study based on data from tertiary hospitals of the NORDICTUS network. We recorded the number of patients admitted for ischemic stroke between 30 December 2019 and 3 May 2020, the number of IVT and EVT procedures, and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: In the study period, 2737 patients were admitted with ischemic stroke. There was a decrease in the weekly mean admitted patients during the pandemic (124 vs. 173, p<0.001). In-hospital mortality of stroke patients increased significantly (9.9% vs. 6.5%, p = 0.003), but there were no differences in the proportion of IVT (17.3% vs. 16.1%, p = 0.405) or EVT (22% vs. 23%, p = 0.504). CONCLUSION: We found a decrease in the number of ischemic stroke admissions and an increase in in-hospital mortality during the COVID-19 epidemic in this large study from North-West Spain. There were regional changes within the network, not fully explained by the severity of the pandemic in different regions.