scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 on ischemic stroke care in Hungary

GeroScience ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Péter Pál Böjti ◽  
Géza Szilágyi ◽  
Balázs Dobi ◽  
Rita Stang ◽  
István Szikora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Significant Decline ◽  
Collateral Damage ◽  
Linear Relationships ◽  
Reimbursement Database ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Operative Measures

AbstractData about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic’s collateral damage on ischemic stroke (IS) care during the second epidemic wave in Central Europe are limited. We sought to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on Hungarian IS care during the two epidemic waves. This retrospective observational study was based on a nationwide reimbursement database that encompasses all IS admissions and all reperfusion interventions, i.e., intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and endovascular therapy (EVT) from 2 January 2017 to 31 December 2020 in Hungary. COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on the number of IS admissions and reperfusion interventions were analyzed using different statistics: means, medians, trends, relative rates, and linear relationships. The mean and median values of IS admissions and reperfusion interventions decreased only in some measure during the COVID-periods. However, trend analysis demonstrated a significant decline from the trends. The decline’s dynamic and amplitude have differed for each variable. In contrast to IVT, the number of IS admissions and EVTs negatively correlated with the epidemic waves’ amplitude. Besides, the decrease in the number of IS admissions was more pronounced than the decrease in the number of reperfusion interventions. Our study demonstrated a significant disruption in IS care during the COVID-19 epidemic in Hungary, in which multiple different factors might play a role. The disproportionate reduction of IS admission numbers could partially be explained by the effect of health emergency operative measures and changes in patients’ social behavior. Further studies are needed to evaluate the causes of our observations.

Management of acute ischemic stroke

BMJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. l6983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S Phipps ◽  
Carolyn A Cronin
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Treatment Time ◽  
Recurrent Stroke ◽  
Time Windows ◽  
Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Stroke is the leading cause of long term disability in developed countries and one of the top causes of mortality worldwide. The past decade has seen substantial advances in the diagnostic and treatment options available to minimize the impact of acute ischemic stroke. The key first step in stroke care is early identification of patients with stroke and triage to centers capable of delivering the appropriate treatment, as fast as possible. Here, we review the data supporting pre-hospital and emergency stroke care, including use of emergency medical services protocols for identification of patients with stroke, intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke including updates to recommended patient eligibility criteria and treatment time windows, and advanced imaging techniques with automated interpretation to identify patients with large areas of brain at risk but without large completed infarcts who are likely to benefit from endovascular thrombectomy in extended time windows from symptom onset. We also review protocols for management of patient physiologic parameters to minimize infarct volumes and recent updates in secondary prevention recommendations including short term use of dual antiplatelet therapy to prevent recurrent stroke in the high risk period immediately after stroke. Finally, we discuss emerging therapies and questions for future research.

In-Hospital Stroke Care: A Six-Year Community-Based Primary Stroke Center Experience

2021 ◽  
pp. 194187442110070
Author(s):  
Felix Ejike Chukwudelunzu ◽  
Bart M Demaerschalk ◽  
Leonardo Fugoso ◽  
Emeka Amadi ◽  
Donn Dexter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Hospital Mortality ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Stroke Team ◽  
Primary Stroke Center ◽  
Stroke Center

Background and purpose: In-hospital stroke-onset assessment and management present numerous challenges, especially in community hospitals. Comprehensive analysis of key stroke care metrics in community-based primary stroke centers is under-studied. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for patients admitted to a community hospital for non-cerebrovascular indications and for whom a stroke alert was activated between 2013 and 2019. Demographic, clinical, radiologic and laboratory information were collected for each incident stroke. Descriptive statistical analysis was employed. When applicable, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-Square tests were used to compare median values and categorical data between pre-specified groups. Statistical significance was set at alpha = 0.05. Results: There were 192 patients with in-hospital stroke-alert activation; mean age (SD) was 71.0 years (15.0), 49.5% female. 51.6% (99/192) had in-hospital ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. The most frequent mechanism of stroke was cardioembolism. Upon stroke activation, 45.8% had ischemic stroke while 40.1% had stroke mimics. Stroke team response time from activation was 26 minutes for all in-hospital activations. Intravenous thrombolysis was utilized in 8% of those with ischemic stroke; 3.4% were transferred for consideration of endovascular thrombectomy. In-hospital mortality was 17.7%, and the proportion of patients discharged to home was 34.4% for all activations. Conclusion: The in-hospital stroke mortality was high, and the proportions of patients who either received or were considered for acute intervention were low. Quality improvement targeting increased use of acute stroke intervention in eligible patients and reducing hospital mortality in this patient cohort is needed.

Development of the Madrid Stroke Programme: Milestones and Changes in Stroke Trends and Mortality from 1997 to 2017

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Silvia Pastor ◽  
Elena de Celis ◽  
Itsaso Losantos García ◽  
María Alonso de Leciñana ◽  
Blanca Fuentes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Mortality ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Care Organization ◽  
Stroke Units ◽  
Health Region ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
The Impact

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Stroke is a serious health problem, given it is the second leading cause of death and a major cause of disability in the European Union. Our study aimed to assess the impact of stroke care organization measures (such as the development of stroke units, implementation of a regional stroke code, and treatment with intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy) implemented from 1997 to 2017 on hospital admissions due to stroke and mortality attributed to stroke in the Madrid health region. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Epidemiological data were obtained from the National Statistics Institute public website. We collected data on the number of patients discharged with a diagnosis of stroke, in-hospital mortality due to stroke and the number of inhabitants in the Madrid health region each year. We calculated rates of discharges and mortality due to stroke and the number of inhabitants per SU bed, and we analysed temporal trends in in-hospital mortality due to stroke using the Daniels test in 2 separate time periods (before and after 2011). Figures representing annual changes in these data from 1997 to 2017 were elaborated, marking stroke care organizational measures in the year they were implemented to visualize their temporal relation with changes in stroke statistics. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Hospital discharges with a diagnosis of stroke have increased from 170.3/100,000 inhabitants in 1997 to 230.23/100,000 inhabitants in 2017. However, the in-hospital mortality rate due to stroke has decreased (from 33.3 to 15.2%). A statistically significant temporal trend towards a decrease in the mortality percentage and rate was found from 1997 to 2011. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Our study illustrates how measures such as the development of stroke units, implementation of a regional stroke code and treatment with intravenous thrombolysis coincide in time with a reduction in in-hospital mortality due to stroke.

Abstract 3268: Ct Perfusion As A Tool To Predict The Risk Of Hemorrhagic Transformation In Ischemic Stroke Treated With Tissue Plasminogen Activator: A Single Center Experience.

Stroke ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tareq Kass-Hout ◽  
Maxim Mokin ◽  
Omar Kass-Hout ◽  
Emad Nourollahzadeh ◽  
David Wack ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Cerebral Blood Volume ◽  
Ct Perfusion ◽  
Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽  
Hemorrhagic Transformation ◽  
Stroke Therapy ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
The Mean

Objective: To use the Computed Tomography Perfusion (CTP) parameters at the time of hospital admission, including Cerebral Blood Volume (CBV) and Permeability Surface area product (PS), to identify patients with higher risk to develop hemorrhagic transformation in the setting of acute stroke therapy with intravenous thrombolysis. Methods: Retrospective study that compared admission CTP variables between patients with Hemorrhagic Transformation (HT) acute stroke and those with no hemorrhagic transformation. Both groups received standard of care intravenous thrombolysis with tPA. Twenty patients presented to our stroke center between the years 2007 - 2011 within 3 hours after stroke symptoms onset. All patients underwent two-phase 320 slice CTP which creates CBV and PS measurements. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether or not they had HT on a follow up CT head without contrast, done within 36 hours of the thrombolysis therapy. Clinical, demographic and CTP variables were compared between the HT and non-HT groups using logistic regression analyses. Results: HT developed in 8 (40%) patients. Patients with HT had lower ASPECT score ( P =.03), higher NIHSS on admission ( P= .01) and worse outcome ( P= .04) compared to patients who did not develop HT. Baseline blood flow defects were comparable between the two groups. The mean PS for the HT group was 0.53 mL/min/100g brain tissue, which was significantly higher than that for the non-HT group of 0.04 mL/min/100g brain tissue ( P <.0001). The mean area under the curve was 0.92 (95% CI). The PS threshold of 0.26 mL/min/100g brain tissue had a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 92% for detecting patients with high risk of hemorrhagic transformation after intravenous thrombolysis. Conclusions: Admission CTP measurements might be useful to predict patients who are at higher risk to develop hemorrhagic transformation after acute ischemic stroke therapy.

Abstract WP399: Reduced Cost and Decreased Length of Stay Associated with Acute Ischemic Stroke Care Provided by Nurse Practitioners: A Single Primary Stroke Center Experience

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah Roering ◽  
Michelle Peterson ◽  
Muhammad Shah Miran ◽  
Melissa Freese ◽  
Kenneth Shea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Nurse Practitioners ◽  
Acute Care Hospital ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Medical Provider ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Stroke Center

Background: Nurse practitioner (NP) have a wider role in modern stroke centers providing quality evidence based care to patients in both in and outpatient settings for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients. We studied the outcome measures, length of stay (LOS) and cost before and after implementation of nurse practitioners as the primary medical provider in a community based stroke center. Methods: St Cloud hospital is acute care hospital with dedicated stroke service responsible for workup and management of all patients admitted with AIS and TIA. From March 2014-March 2015, all patients were primarily managed by stroke neurologists with or without support of NP, representing physician driven arm. From June 2015-March 2016 all non-critical patients were managed primarily by NP, representing the NP driven arm of care. For this analysis, we excluded all patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage or intracerebral hemorrhage. Using ICD codes, we abstracted LOS and hospitalization cost for all patients, and compared between two arms. Results: A total of 822 patients were included in physician arm and 336 in NP arm. The mean age was 72±14 years for both arms, and 54.4% were male in physician arm and 57.4% were male in NP arm. The mean total LOS for the physician arm was 3.1 ±3.3 days while 2.9±3.6 for NP arm (p=0.6). The total cost for physician arm was $11,286.70 ±$10,920.90 while the NP arm was $10,277.30± $10,142.30 (p=0.1). Conclusion: There is a trend towards lower cost and length of stay with implementation of NP as primary stroke provider for patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke.

scholarly journals Clinical profile of patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving intravenous thrombolysis (rtPA-alteplase)

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 164
Author(s):  
Shiva Prasad Jagini ◽  
Suresh I.
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽  
Clinical Profile ◽  
Favorable Outcome ◽  
Nihss Score ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Centre Hospital

Background: Stroke patients are at highest risk death in the first few weeks after the event, and between 20-50% die within first month depending on type, severity, age, co-morbidities and effectiveness of treatment of complications. Objective of this study was to clinical profile of patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving intravenous thrombolysis (rtPA-alteplase).Methods: Prospective Observational study of 26 cases of acute ischemic stroke receiving IV thrombolysis using rtPA-alteplase at Kovai Medical Centre Hospital, Coimbatore over a period of 1 year 9 months.Results: 21 cases had NIHSS score of range 10 to 22. The mean NIHSS score at admission is 13.5. 15 subjects (57.7%) had achieved primary outcome in this study. MRS Score of 0 to 2 is considered as favorable outcome. In this study 20 subjects (76.92 %) had favorable outcome at the end of 3 months.Conclusions: Majority of the patients receiving rtPA-alteplase had favorable outcome.

Abstract TP21: Is Presence of Diabetes Mellitus a Key Prognostic Factor among Patients Receiving Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke?

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seong-Joon Lee ◽  
Yang-Ha Hwang ◽  
Ji Man Hong ◽  
Jin Wook Choi ◽  
Dong-Hun Kang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Given the recent positive endovascular therapy trials for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), this therapeutic strategy is now being increasingly incorporated into routine clinical practice. Identifying prognostic factors among AIS patients receiving endovascular revascularization treatments (ERT) in the real world could be important for clinicians and patients. While the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on IV thrombolytic outcomes after AIS has been extensively investigated, there is a paucity of data assessing effects of DM on ERT outcomes after AIS. We evaluated the impact of comorbid DM on ERT for AIS. Methods: From Jan 2011 to Feb 2016, patients with AIS who underwent ERT for cervicocephalic occlusions were consecutively enrolled into the Acute Stroke due to Intracranial Atherosclerotic occlusion and Neurointervention - Korean Retrospective (ASIAN KR) registry from 3 hospitals. Patients were excluded if onset to puncture time over 8 hours, in-hospital stroke, or unavailable 3-month mRS. DM was diagnosed if a patient had the history, or hemoglobin A1c on admission was over 6.5. Univariate analysis was performed to compare the characteristics between DM and non-DM population. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to validate the effect of comorbid DM on 3 month outcomes. Results: Of 721 patients, 667 (93%) were finally included, with 233 DM patients and 434 non-DM patients. In the univariate analysis, comorbidity with hypertension (71.2% vs. 58.3%, p=0.001) and dyslipidemia (36.7% vs. 26.7%, p=0.012) were more frequent in the DM population. Periprocedural factors such as target vessels, intravenous thrombolysis, and final reperfusion grades did not differ. Good outcomes with mRS 0-2 were less frequent in the DM population (43.3% vs. 53.7%, p=0.011). In the logistic regression analysis adjusting age, male sex, initial NIHSS, premorbid mRS, hypertension history, atrial fibrillation, intravenous thrombolysis, onset to puncture time and successful reperfusion, DM was an independent predictor of poor outcomes (mRS 3-6; 1.933, 1.274-2.933, p=0.002). Conclusion: In patients receiving ERT for AIS due to cervicocephalic artery occlusions, the presence of DM as a comorbidity confers greater odds of a poor functional outcome.

scholarly journals The stroke mothership model survived during COVID-19 era: an observational single-center study in Emilia-Romagna, Italy

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (12) ◽  
pp. 3395-3399
Author(s):  
Andrea Zini ◽  
Michele Romoli ◽  
Mauro Gentile ◽  
Ludovica Migliaccio ◽  
Cosimo Picoco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Treatment Time ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Minor Stroke ◽  
Care Organization ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Stroke Center ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction A reduction of the hospitalization and reperfusion treatments was reported during COVID-19 pandemic. However, high variability in results emerged, potentially due to logistic paradigms adopted. Here, we analyze stroke code admissions, hospitalizations, and stroke belt performance for ischemic stroke patients in the metropolitan Bologna region, comparing temporal trends between 2019 and 2020 to define the impact of COVID-19 on the stroke network. Methods This retrospective observational study included all people admitted at the Bologna Metropolitan Stroke Center in timeframes 1 March 2019–30 April 2019 (cohort-2019) and 1 March 2020–30 April 2020 (cohort-2020). Diagnosis, treatment strategy, and timing were compared between the two cohorts to define temporal trends. Results Overall, 283 patients were admitted to the Stroke Center, with no differences in demographic factors between cohort-2019 and cohort-2020. In cohort-2020, transient ischemic attack (TIA) was significantly less prevalent than 2019 (6.9% vs 14.4%, p = .04). Among 216 ischemic stroke patients, moderate-to-severe stroke was more represented in cohort-2020 (17.8% vs 6.2%, p = .027). Similar proportions of patients underwent reperfusion (45.9% in 2019 vs 53.4% in 2020), although a slight increase in combined treatment was detected (14.4% vs 25.4%, p = .05). Door-to-scan timing was significantly prolonged in 2020 compared with 2019 (28.4 ± 12.6 vs 36.7 ± 14.6, p = .03), although overall timing from stroke to treatment was preserved. Conclusion During COVID-19 pandemic, TIA and minor stroke consistently reduced compared to the same timeframe in 2019. Longer stroke-to-call and door-to-scan times, attributable to change in citizen behavior and screening at hospital arrival, did not impact on stroke-to-treatment time. Mothership model might have minimized the effects of the pandemic on the stroke care organization.

Collateral Circulation Predicts the Size of the Infarct Core and the Proportion of Salvageable Penumbra in Hyperacute Ischemic Stroke Patients Treated with Intravenous Thrombolysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 182-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harri Rusanen ◽  
Jukka T. Saarinen ◽  
Niko Sillanpää
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Clinical Outcome ◽  
Collateral Circulation ◽  
Cerebral Blood Volume ◽  
Treatment Time ◽  
Ct Perfusion ◽  
Mean Transit Time ◽  
Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
The Impact

Background: We studied the impact of collateral circulation on CT perfusion (CTP) parametric maps and the amount of salvaged brain tissue, the imaging and clinical outcome at 24 h and at 3 months in a retrospective acute (<3 h) stroke cohort (105 patients) with anterior circulation thrombus treated with intravenous thrombolysis. Methods: Baseline clinical and imaging information were collected and groups with different collateral scores (CS) were compared. Binary logistic regression analyses using good CS (CS ≥2) as the dependent variable were calculated. Results: CTP Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) was successfully assessed in 58 cases. Thirty patients displayed good CS. Poor CS were associated with more severe strokes according to National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at arrival (15 vs. 7, p = 0.005) and at 24 h (10 vs. 3, p = 0.003) after intravenous thrombolysis. Good CS were associated with a longer mean onset-to-treatment time (141 vs. 121 min, p = 0.009) and time to CTP (102 vs. 87 min, p = 0.047), better cerebral blood volume (CBV) ASPECTS (9 vs. 6, p < 0.001), better mean transit time (MTT) ASPECTS (6 vs. 3, p < 0.001), better noncontrast CT (NCCT) ASPECTS (10 vs. 8, p < 0.001) at arrival and with favorable clinical outcome at 3 months (modified Rankin Scale ≤2, p = 0.002). The fraction of penumbra that was salvageable at arrival and salvaged at 24 h was higher with better CS (p < 0.001 and p = 0.035, respectively). In multivariate analysis, time from the onset of symptoms to imaging (p = 0.037, OR 1.04 per minute, 95% CI 1.00-1.08) and CBV ASPECTS (p = 0.001, OR 2.11 per ASPECTS point, 95% CI 1.33-3.34) predicted good CS. In similar multivariable models, MTT ASPECTS (p = 0.04, OR 1.46 per ASPECTS point, 95% CI 1.02-2.10) and NCCT ASPECTS predicted good CS (p = 0.003, OR 4.38 per CT ASPECTS point, 95% CI 1.66-11.55) along with longer time from the onset of symptoms to imaging (p = 0.045, OR 1.03 per minute, 95% CI 1.00-1.06 and p = 0.02, OR 1.05 per minute, 95% CI 1.00-1.09, respectively). CBV ASPECTS had a larger area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for good CS (0.837) than NCCT ASPECTS (0.802) or MTT ASPECTS (0.752) at arrival. Conclusions: Favorable CBV ASPECTS, NCCT ASPECTS and MTT ASPECTS are associated with good CS along with more salvageable tissue and longer time from the onset of symptoms to imaging in ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis.

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