Eutanasia y suicidio asistido en enfermedades neurológicas: una revisión sistemática / Euthanasia and assisted suicide in neurological diseases: a systematic review

Objetivo Identificar las enfermedades neurológicas por las que con mayor frecuencia se solicita la eutanasia y el suicidio asistido en los países donde están legalizados, las particularidades de la eutanasia en algunas de ellas y mostrar la evolución de sus cifras. Métodos Revisión bibliográfica sistemática. Resultados Las demencias, enfermedad de motoneurona, esclerosis múltiple y enfermedad de Parkinson son las enfermedades neurológicas que más frecuentemente motivan la petición de eutanasia o suicidio asistido. Las solicitudes por demencia son las más numerosas, están creciendo y plantean problemas éticos y legales adicionales al disminuir la capacidad de decisión. En algunos países la proporción de solicitudes respecto al total de casos de esclerosis múltiple, enfermedad de motoneurona o enfermedad de Huntington es mayor que en cualquier otra enfermedad. Conclusiones Después del cáncer las enfermedades neurológicas son el motivo más frecuente de pedir la eutanasia y el suicidio asistido. (AU)

Objective To identify the neurological diseases for which euthanasia and assisted suicide are most frequently requested in the countries where these medical procedures are legal and the specific characteristics of euthanasia in some of these diseases, and to show the evolution of euthanasia figures. Methods We conducted a systematic literature review. Results Dementia, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease are the neurological diseases that most frequently motivate requests for euthanasia or assisted suicide. Claims related to dementia constitute the largest group, are growing, and raise additional ethical and legal issues due to these patients’ diminished decision-making capacity. In some countries, the ratios of euthanasia requests to all cases of multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease, or Huntington disease are higher than for any other disease. Conclusions After cancer, neurological diseases are the most frequent reason for requesting euthanasia or assisted suicide. (AU)

Euthanasia and assisted suicide in neurological diseases: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the neurological diseases for which euthanasia and assisted suicide are most frequently requested in the countries where these medical procedures are legal and the specific characteristics of euthanasia in some of these diseases, and to show the evolution of euthanasia figures. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature review. RESULTS: Dementia, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease are the neurological diseases that most frequently motivate requests for euthanasia or assisted suicide. Requests related to dementia constitute the largest group, are growing, and raise additional ethical and legal issues due to these patients' diminished decision-making capacity. In some countries, the ratios of euthanasia requests to all cases of multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease, or Huntington disease are higher than for any other disease. CONCLUSIONS: After cancer, neurological diseases are the most frequent reason for requesting euthanasia or assisted suicide.

La asistencia telefónica de las enfermedades neurológicas: una revisión sistemática / Telephone assistance for neurological diseases: a systematic review

Introducción y objetivo: Es conocido que parte de la asistencia a los pacientes neurológicos se presta por teléfono, pero desconocemos las enfermedades que se atienden de esta manera y qué partes de la asistencia se proporcionan así. Pretendemos averiguarlo a través de esta revisión bibliográfica. Materiales y métodos: Se han revisado sistemáticamente las referencias sobre asistencia telefónica a enfermedades neurológicas accesibles a través de las plataformas PubMed, Embase y Cochrane, sin fecha de inicio y hasta el 3 de abril de 2022. Se encontraron 618 referencias, de las que 219 no pasaron los criterios de exclusión, por lo que se revisaron 399. Resultados: Hay un aumento de publicaciones en los últimos años y, aunque la demencia no es la enfermedad más prevalente, es el área de la neurología con más publicaciones sobre asistencia telefónica. Le siguen los ictus, el traumatismo craneoencefálico, la esclerosis múltiple, la enfermedad de Parkinson y trastornos del movimiento, la epilepsia, las enfermedades neuromusculares y otras. Discusión y conclusiones. Las demencias son las enfermedades con más referencias bibliográficas sobre su asistencia telefónica a pesar de no ser las más prevalentes. Con frecuencia, el teléfono se utiliza para administrar escalas diagnósticas o apoyar a los cuidadores, y es especialmente útil en enfermedades que dificultan la movilidad y acudir presencialmente.(AU)

Introduction and aim: While part of the care for neurological patients is done by telephone, it is not well known what neurological diseases and which part of that care is provided by telephone. Our goal is to find it out through a bibliographic review. Materials and methods: References on telephone care for neurological diseases accessible through the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane platforms have been systematically reviewed, with an unspecified start date and up to March 2022. We found 618 references, and as 219 did not pass the exclusion criteria, 399 were finally included in the review. Results: Dementia is the area of neurology with more publications about its telephone assistance. It is followed by stroke, head trauma, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders, epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders, and others. Discussion and conclusions: Dementias are the diseases with more bibliographic references on their telephone assistance despite not being the most prevalent. The telephone is frequently used to administer diagnostic scales or support caregivers and is particularly useful in diseases that limit mobility and attending a medical practice.(AU)

[Telephone assistance for neurological diseases: a systematic review]. / La asistencia telefónica de las enfermedades neurológicas: una revisión sistemática.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: While part of the care for neurological patients is done by telephone, it is not well known what neurological diseases and which part of that care is provided by telephone. Our goal is to find it out through a bibliographic review. MATERIALS AND METHODS: References on telephone care for neurological diseases accessible through the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane platforms have been systematically reviewed, with an unspecified start date and up to March 2022. We found 618 references, and as 219 did not pass the exclusion criteria, 399 were finally included in the review. RESULTS: Dementia is the area of neurology with more publications about its telephone assistance. It is followed by stroke, head trauma, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and movement disorders, epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders, and others. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Dementias are the diseases with more bibliographic references on their telephone assistance despite not being the most prevalent. The telephone is frequently used to administer diagnostic scales or support caregivers and is particularly useful in diseases that limit mobility and attending a medical practice.

TITLE: La asistencia telefónica de las enfermedades neurológicas: una revisión sistemática.Introducción y objetivo. Es conocido que parte de la asistencia a los pacientes neurológicos se presta por teléfono, pero desconocemos las enfermedades que se atienden de esta manera y qué partes de la asistencia se proporcionan así. Pretendemos averiguarlo a través de esta revisión bibliográfica. Materiales y métodos. Se han revisado sistemáticamente las referencias sobre asistencia telefónica a enfermedades neurológicas accesibles a través de las plataformas PubMed, Embase y Cochrane, sin fecha de inicio y hasta el 3 de abril de 2022. Se encontraron 618 referencias, de las que 219 no pasaron los criterios de exclusión, por lo que se revisaron 399. Resultados. Hay un aumento de publicaciones en los últimos años y, aunque la demencia no es la enfermedad más prevalente, es el área de la neurología con más publicaciones sobre asistencia telefónica. Le siguen los ictus, el traumatismo craneoencefálico, la esclerosis múltiple, la enfermedad de Parkinson y trastornos del movimiento, la epilepsia, las enfermedades neuromusculares y otras. Discusión y conclusiones. Las demencias son las enfermedades con más referencias bibliográficas sobre su asistencia telefónica a pesar de no ser las más prevalentes. Con frecuencia, el teléfono se utiliza para administrar escalas diagnósticas o apoyar a los cuidadores, y es especialmente útil en enfermedades que dificultan la movilidad y acudir presencialmente.

Euthanasia and assisted suicide in neurological diseases: a systematic review. / Eutanasia y suicidio asistido en enfermedades neurológicas: una revisión sistemática.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the neurological diseases for which euthanasia and assisted suicide are most frequently requested in the countries where these medical procedures are legal and the specific characteristics of euthanasia in some of these diseases, and to show the evolution of euthanasia figures. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature review. RESULTS: Dementia, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease are the neurological diseases that most frequently motivate requests for euthanasia or assisted suicide. Claims related to dementia constitute the largest group, are growing, and raise additional ethical and legal issues due to these patients' diminished decision-making capacity. In some countries, the ratios of euthanasia requests to all cases of multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease, or Huntington disease are higher than for any other disease. CONCLUSIONS: After cancer, neurological diseases are the most frequent reason for requesting euthanasia or assisted suicide.

Impact of COVID-19 outbreak in reperfusion therapies of acute ischaemic stroke in northwest Spain.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Spain has been one of the countries more heavily stricken by SARS-CoV-2, which has had huge implications for stroke care. The aim was to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic outbreak on reperfusion therapies for acute ischaemic stroke in the northwest of Spain. METHODS: This was a Spanish multicentre retrospective observational study based on data from tertiary hospitals of the NORDICTUS network. All patients receiving reperfusion therapy for ischaemic stroke between 30 December 2019 and 3 May 2020 were recorded, and their baseline, clinical and radiological characteristics, extra- and intra-hospital times of action, Code Stroke activation pathway, COVID-19 status, reperfusion rate, and short-term outcome before and after the setting of the emergency state were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 796 patients received reperfusion therapies for ischaemic stroke. There was a decrease in the number of patients treated per week (46.5 patients per week vs. 39.0 patients per week, P = 0.043) and a delay in out-of-hospital (95.0 vs. 110.0 min, P = 0.001) and door-to-needle times (51.0 vs. 55.0, P = 0.038). Patients receiving endovascular therapy obtained less successful reperfusion rates (92.9% vs. 86.6%, P = 0.016). COVID-19 patients had more in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: A decrease in the number of patients benefiting from reperfusion therapies was found, with a delay in out-of-hospital and door-to-needle times and worse reperfusion rates in northwest Spain. COVID-19 patients had more in-hospital mortality.

Stroke as a complication and prognostic factor of COVID-19. / Ictus como complicación y como factor pronóstico de COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Contradictory data have been reported on the incidence of stroke in patients with COVID-19 and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients with history of stroke. METHODS: This study systematically reviews case series reporting stroke as a complication of COVID-19, and analyses the prognosis of patients with COVID-19 and history of stroke. The pathophysiological mechanisms of stroke in patients with COVID-19 are also reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: History of stroke increases the risk of death due to COVID-19 by 3 times. Stroke currently seems not to be one of the main complications of COVID-19.