Numbers and types of neurological emergencies in England and the influence of socioeconomic deprivation: a retrospective analysis of hospital episode statistics data.

OBJECTIVES: In this first large-scale analysis of neurological emergency admissions in England, we determine the number and types of emergency admissions with neurological emergency diagnostic codes, how many are under the care of a neurologist or neurosurgeon and how such admissions vary by levels of deprivation. DESIGN: Retrospective empirical research employing a derived list of neurological emergency diagnostic codes SETTING: This study used the Hospital Episode Statistics data set for the financial year 2019/2020 based on 17 million in-year inpatient admissions in England including 6.5 million (100%) emergency admissions with any diagnosis codes. RESULTS: There were 1.4 million (21.2%) emergency inpatient admissions with a mention of any neurological code, approx. 248 455 (3.8%) with mention of a specific neurological emergency code from the derived list, and 72 485 (1.1%) included such a code as the primary reason for admission. The highest number of in-year admissions for adults was for epilepsy (145 995), with epilepsy as the primary diagnostic code in 15 945 (10.9%). Acute nerve root/spinal cord syndrome (41 215), head injury (29 235) and subarachnoid haemorrhage (18 505) accounted for the next three highest number of admissions. 3230 (1.4%) in-year emergency hospital admissions with mention of a neurological emergency code were under the care of a neurologist or neurosurgeon, with only 1315 (0.9%) admissions with mention of an epilepsy code under a neurologist. There was significant variation for epilepsy and functional neurological disorders (FNDs) in particular by Index of Multiple Deprivation decile. The association between deprivation and epilepsy and FND was significant with p-values of 2.5e-6 and 1.5e-8, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study has identified important findings in relation to the burden of neurological emergency admissions but further work is needed, with greater clinical engagement in diagnostic coding, to better understand the implications for workforce and changes to service delivery needing to be implemented.

Epidemiological and cohort study finds no association between COVID-19 and Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Reports of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) have emerged during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This epidemiological and cohort study sought to investigate any causative association between COVID-19 infection and GBS. The epidemiology of GBS cases reported to the UK National Immunoglobulin Database was studied from 2016 to 2019 and compared to cases reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were stratified by hospital trust and region, with numbers of reported cases per month. UK population data for COVID-19 infection were collated from UK public health bodies. In parallel, but separately, members of the British Peripheral Nerve Society prospectively reported incident cases of GBS during the pandemic at their hospitals to a central register. The clinical features, investigation findings and outcomes of COVID-19 (definite or probable) and non-COVID-19 associated GBS cases in this cohort were compared. The incidence of GBS treated in UK hospitals from 2016 to 2019 was 1.65-1.88 per 100 000 individuals per year. GBS incidence fell between March and May 2020 compared to the same months of 2016-19. GBS and COVID-19 incidences during the pandemic also varied between regions and did not correlate with one another (r = 0.06, 95% confidence interval: -0.56 to 0.63, P = 0.86). In the independent cohort study, 47 GBS cases were reported (COVID-19 status: 13 definite, 12 probable, 22 non-COVID-19). There were no significant differences in the pattern of weakness, time to nadir, neurophysiology, CSF findings or outcome between these groups. Intubation was more frequent in the COVID-19 affected cohort (7/13, 54% versus 5/22, 23% in COVID-19-negative) attributed to COVID-19 pulmonary involvement. Although it is not possible to entirely rule out the possibility of a link, this study finds no epidemiological or phenotypic clues of SARS-CoV-2 being causative of GBS. GBS incidence has fallen during the pandemic, which may be the influence of lockdown measures reducing transmission of GBS inducing pathogens such as Campylobacter jejuni and respiratory viruses.

Late-onset epilepsy predicts stroke: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Late-onset epilepsy (LOE) is closely associated with cerebrovascular disease, acting as both a marker of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and occurring as a direct consequence. Despite this, our understanding of LOE as a cerebrovascular phenomenon is in its infancy. LOE also appears to be a harbinger of dementia. METHODS: A systematic review was performed to identify publications relating to LOE and identified observational studies, clinical studies, and radiological studies. RESULTS: A meta-analysis of observational studies demonstrated that patients presenting with LOE experience an increased risk of subsequent stroke (weighted OR 3.88 (95% CI 2.76-5.46)). The additional studies demonstrated clinical and radiological evidence to support the premise that LOE is likely to reflect underlying cerebrovascular disease. SIGNIFICANCE: Cerebrovascular disease risk factors convey increased risk of LOE and LOE can precede stroke and dementia, acting as an early marker for cerebrovascular risk. This may represent a potential point for intervention. There are a number of suggested mechanisms relating LOE to stroke; however, there is limited understanding of the natural history of LOE. Current data support the need for prospective research in order to understand the natural history of LOE and modify disease, in order to reduce the apparent sequelae of stroke and dementia.

Clinical frailty independently predicts early mortality after ischaemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Clinical frailty is an important syndrome for clinical care and research, independently predicting mortality and rates of institutionalisation in a range of medical conditions. However, there has been little research into the role of frailty in stroke. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the effect of frailty on 28-day mortality following ischaemic stroke and outcomes following stroke thrombolysis. METHODS: Frailty was measured using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) for all ischaemic stroke admissions aged ≥75 years. Stroke severity was measured using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). 28-day mortality and clinical outcomes were collected retrospectively. Analysis included both dichotomised measures of frailty (non-frail: CFS 1-4, frail: 5-8) and CFS as a continuous ordinal scale. RESULTS: In 433 individuals with ischaemic stroke, 28-day mortality was higher in frail versus non-frail individuals (39 (16.7%) versus 10 (5%), P < 0.01). On multivariable analysis, a one-point increase in CFS was independently associated with 28-day mortality (OR 1.03 (1.01-1.05)). In 63 thrombolysed individuals, median NIHSS reduced significantly in non-frail individuals (12.5 (interquartile range (IQR) 9.25) to 5 (IQR 10.5), P < 0.01) but not in frail individuals (15 (IQR 11.5) to 16 (IQR 16.5), P = 0.23). On multivariable analysis, a one-point increase in CFS was independently associated with a one-point reduction in post-thrombolysis NIHSS improvement (coefficient 1.07, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Clinical frailty is independently associated with 28-day mortality after ischaemic stroke and appears independently associated with attenuated improvement in NIHSS following stroke thrombolysis. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and how frailty may be utilised in clinical decision-making.

Precision medicine in COPD: review of mepolizumab for eosinophilic COPD.

Mepolizumab can reduce exacerbation rates in those with frequently exacerbating, severe COPD and raised blood eosinophils; this represents a further advance in precision medicine for COPD and targeted therapies http://ow.ly/uklu30m4YcU.