Stroke admissions and revascularization treatments in Denmark during COVID-19.
Acta Neurol Scand
; 145(2): 160-170, 2022 Feb.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1450524
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study was to assess the number of stroke-related admissions and acute treatments during the first two waves of COVID-19 and lockdowns in the Capital Region of Denmark and the Region of Zealand. MATERIALS &METHODS:
The weekly numbers of admitted patients with stroke were retrieved from electronic patient records from January 2019 to February 2021 and analysed to reveal potential fluctuations in patient volumes during the pandemic.RESULTS:
A total of 23,688 patients were included, of whom 2049 patients were treated with tissue-type plasminogen activators (tPA) and 552 underwent endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). We found a transient decrease in the number of weekly admitted patients (pts/week) with all strokes (-9.8 pts/week, 95% CI -19.4; -0.2, p = .046) and stroke mimics (-30.1 pts/week, 95% CI -39.9; -20.3, p < .001) during the first lockdown compared to pre-COVID-19. The number of subarachnoid haemorrhage, intracerebral haemorrhage, and ischaemic stroke admissions showed insignificant declines. Analysing all COVID-19 periods collectively revealed increased volumes of ischaemic stroke (+6.2 pts/week, 95% CI +1.6; +10.7, p = .009) compared to pre-COVID levels, while numbers of stroke mimics remained lower than pre-COVID. Weekly tPA and EVT treatments remained constant throughout the study period.CONCLUSIONS:
Our results are comparable with other studies in finding reductions in stroke-related admissions early in the pandemic. This is the first study to report increased stroke volumes following the first wave of the pandemic. The mechanisms behind the observed drop and subsequent rise in strokes are unclear and warrant further investigation.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Brain Ischemia
/
Stroke
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
Acta Neurol Scand
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Ane.13535
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