Stroke care during the COVID-19 outbreak in Spain: the experience of Spanish stroke units

Background and purposeSpain has been heavily affected by COVID-19. Reallocation of resources for managing the outbreak might have caused a disruption in stroke care. This study analyses the impact on stroke care of reorganising the healthcare system in response to the first COVID-19 outbreak peak in Spain and the strategies adopted by Spanish stroke units to deal with this impact.Materials and methodsWe obtained data from a structured survey sent to the responsible of stroke units across the country. We recorded the number of strokes, stroke code activations, intravenous thrombolysis treatments and mechanical thrombectomies during February and March 2019 and 2020. We also collected information on the impact on workflow metrics and on the availability of specialised neurological care and rehabilitation treatments, the characteristics of stroke care for patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and the impact on human resources. We compared the activity data between 2019 and 2020 and the information on activity and impact on stroke care between regions classified according to the disease incidence rate.ResultsFifty-seven (75%) of all stroke units in Spain responded to the survey. There was an overall reduction in admissions for all stroke types during the outbreak’s peak and in the number of stroke code activations and intravenous thrombolysis treatments, results that were independent of the COVID-19 incidence rate. Participants reported a delay in workflow metrics and a reduction of admissions to stroke units, outpatient clinics and rehabilitation therapies. Specific pathways and protocols for managing stroke patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection have been established.ConclusionThe COVID-19 outbreak has jeopardised all phases of stroke care. As a consequence, some patients with stroke did not receive adequate treatment.

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

Neuroepidemiology ◽

10.1159/000514077 ◽

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

Introduction: 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: 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.

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Management of acute ischemic stroke

BMJ ◽

10.1136/bmj.l6983 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. l6983 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

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.

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Exploring the Collateral Damage of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Stroke Care

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.121.034150 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Clotilde Balucani ◽

J. Ricardo Carhuapoma ◽

Joseph K. Canner ◽

Roland Faigle ◽

Brenda Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transient Ischemic Attack ◽

Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽

Stroke Care ◽

Unintended Consequences ◽

Stroke Subtype ◽

Hospital Arrival ◽

Time Period ◽

Ischemic Attack ◽

The Impact ◽

Emergency Measures

Background and Purpose: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the various emergency measures implemented to contain the spread of the virus and to overcome the volume of affected patients presenting to hospitals may have had unintended consequences. Several studies reported a decrease in the number of stroke admissions. There are no data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stroke admissions and stroke care in Maryland. Methods: A retrospective analysis of quality improvement data reported by stroke centers in the State of Maryland. The number of admissions for stroke, overall and by stroke subtype, between March 1 and September 30, 2020 (pandemic) were compared with the same time period in 2019 (prepandemic). Median last known well to hospital arrival time, the number of intravenous thrombolysis and thrombectomy were also compared. Results: During the initial 7 months of the pandemic, there were 6529 total admissions for stroke and transient ischemic attack, monthly mean 938 (95% CI, 837.1–1038.9) versus prepandemic 8003, monthly mean 1156.3 (CI, 1121.3–1191.2), P <0.001. A significant decrease was observed in intravenous thrombolysis treatments, pandemic 617, monthly mean 88.1 (80.7–95.6) versus prepandemic 805, monthly mean 115 (CI, 104.3–125.6), P <0.001; there was no significant decrease for thrombectomies. The pandemic decreased the probability of admissions for stroke and transient ischemic attack by 19%, for acute ischemic stroke by 20%, for the number of intravenous thrombolysis performed by 23%. There was no difference in the number of admissions for subarachnoid hemorrhage, pandemic 199, monthly mean 28.4 (CI, 22.5–34.3) versus prepandemic 217, monthly mean 31 (CI, 23.9–38.1), respectively, P =0.507. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the acute care of unrelated cerebrovascular emergencies.

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Telestroke in Catalonia: Increasing Thrombolysis Rate and Avoiding Interhospital Transfers

Cerebrovascular Diseases ◽

10.1159/000492124 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 46 (1-2) ◽

pp. 66-71 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Elena López-Cancio ◽

Marc Ribó ◽

Pere Cardona ◽

Joaquín Serena ◽

Francisco Purroy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Outcome ◽

Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽

Stroke Care ◽

Population Based ◽

Transient Ischemic Attacks ◽

Acute Stroke Care ◽

Population Based Study ◽

The Impact ◽

Web Platform ◽

Population Rate

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the impact of a telestroke network on acute stroke care in Catalonia, by measuring thrombolysis rates, access to endovascular treatment, and clinical outcome of telestroke patients in a population-based study. Methods: Telestroke network was implemented on March 2013 and consists of 12 community hospitals and 1 expert stroke neurologist 24 h/7 day, covering a population of 1.3 million inhabitants. Rest of the population (6.2 million) of Catalonia is covered by 8 primary stroke centers (PSC) and 6 comprehensive stroke centers (CSC). After a 2-way videoconference and visualization of neuroimaging on a web platform, the stroke neurologist decides the therapeutic approach and/or to transfer the patient to another facility, entering these data in a mandatory registry. Simultaneously, all patients treated with reperfusion therapies in all centers of Catalonia are prospectively recorded in a mandatory and audited registry. Results: From March 2013 to December 2015, 1,206 patients were assessed by telestroke videoconference, of whom 322 received intravenous thrombolysis (IVT; 33.8% of ischemic strokes). Baseline and 24 h NIHSS, rate of symptomatic hemorrhage, mortality, and good outcome at 3 months were similar compared to those who received IVT in PSC or CSC (2,897 patients in the same period). The door-to-needle time was longer in patients treated through telestroke, but was progressively reduced from 2013 to 2015. Percentage of patients receiving thrombectomy after IVT was similar in patients treated through telestroke circuit, compared to those treated in PSC or CSC (conventional circuit). Population rates of IVT*100,000 inhabitants in Catalonia increased from 2011 to 2015, especially in areas affected by the implementation of telestroke network, achieving rates as high as 16 per 100,000 inhabitants. Transfers to another facility were avoided after telestroke consultation in 46.8% of ischemic, 76.5% of transient ischemic attacks, and 23.5% of hemorrhages. Conclusions: Telestroke favors safe and effective thrombolysis, helps to increase the population rate of IVT, and avoids a large number of interhospital transfers.

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Impact of COVID-19 on ischemic stroke care in Hungary

GeroScience ◽

10.1007/s11357-021-00424-z ◽

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.

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Improving Outcomes After Stroke: From Stroke Units to Mobile Stroke Units

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.121.034616 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Andrei V. Alexandrov ◽

Yongchai Nilanont

Keyword(s):

Stroke Care ◽

Absolute Difference ◽

Clinical Approach ◽

Stroke Units ◽

Stroke Treatment ◽

Golden Hour ◽

Systemic Thrombolysis ◽

Improved Outcomes ◽

Mobile Stroke Unit ◽

The Impact

A proactive clinical approach to stroke care improved functional outcomes with implementation of specialized in-hospital stroke units, urgently delivered systemic thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy and most recently with mobile stroke units deployed in the field. An 18% absolute difference in outcomes as a shift across all modified Rankin Scale strata at 3 months in the recent Berlin study may not be explained by just 8.8% more patients treated within the golden hour for thrombolytic treatment from symptom onset. These findings parallel the findings in the largest controlled multi-center BEST-MSU trial (Benefits of Stroke Treatment Delivered Using a Mobile Stroke Unit) to date. A shortcoming in blinding of the investigators to the mode of transportation is similar to blinding to the endovascular treatment in PROBE (Prospective Randomized Open, Blinded End-Point) design used in thrombectomy trials. A faster access to stroke experts and brain imaging in the field for all patients suspect of stroke regardless symptom nature, severity, duration or resolution delivered by mobile stroke units is likely the reason for improved outcomes akin the impact observed in the initial multidisciplinary approach to in-hospital stroke units and reperfusion therapies delivery.

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Stroke care networks and the impact on quality of care

Health Care Management Science ◽

10.1007/s10729-021-09582-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jan Schoenfelder ◽

Mansour Zarrin ◽

Remo Griesbaum ◽

Ansgar Berlis

Keyword(s):

Network Design ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Stroke Care ◽

Treatment Method ◽

Stroke Units ◽

Levels Of Care ◽

Improvement Potential ◽

Current Design ◽

The Impact ◽

Travel Distances

AbstractLack of rapidly available neurological expertise, especially in rural areas, is one of the key obstacles in stroke care. Stroke care networks attempt to address this challenge by connecting hospitals with specialized stroke centers, stroke units, and hospitals of lower levels of care. While the benefits of stroke care networks are well-documented, travel distances are likely to increase when patients are transferred almost exclusively between members of the same network. This is particularly important for patients who require mechanical thrombectomy, an increasingly employed treatment method that requires equipment and expertise available in specialized stroke centers. This study aims to analyze the performance of the current design of stroke care networks in Bavaria, Germany, and to evaluate the improvement potential when the networks are redesigned to minimize travel distances. To this end, we define three fundamental criteria for assessing network design performance: 1) average travel distances, 2) the populace in the catchment area relative to the number of stroke units, and 3) the ratio of stroke units to lower-care hospitals. We generate several alternative stroke network designs using an analytical approach based on mathematical programming and clustering. Finally, we evaluate the performance of the existing networks in Bavaria via simulation. The results show that the current network design could be significantly improved concerning the average travel distances. Moreover, the existing networks are unnecessarily imbalanced when it comes to their number of stroke units per capita and the ratio of stroke units to lower-care hospitals.

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Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute stroke reperfusion therapy: data from the Lyon Stroke Center Network

10.21203/rs.3.rs-56553/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Cécile PLUMEREAU ◽

Tae-Hee CHO ◽

Marielle BUISSON ◽

Camille AMAZ ◽

Matteo CAPPUCCI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acute Stroke ◽

Control Period ◽

Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽

Stroke Care ◽

Reperfusion Therapy ◽

Acute Stroke Care ◽

Emergency Medical Dispatch ◽

Comprehensive Stroke Center ◽

Stroke Center ◽

The Impact

Abstract BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic would have particularly affected acute stroke care. However, its impact is clearly inherent to the local stroke network conditions. We aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on acute stroke care in the Lyon comprehensive stroke center during this period.MethodsWe conducted a prospective data collection of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and/or mechanical thrombectomy (MT) during the COVID-19 period (from 29/02/2020 to 10/05/2020) and a control period (from 29/02/2019 to 10/05/2019). The volume of reperfusion therapies and pre and intra-hospital delays were compared during both periods.ResultsA total of 208 patients were included. The volume of IVT significantly decreased during the COVID-period (55 (54.5%) vs 74 (69.2%); p=0.03) and was mainly due to time delay among patients treated with MT. The volume of MT remains stable over the two periods (72 (71.3%) vs 65 (60.8%); p=0.14) but the door-to-groin puncture time increased in patients transferred for MT (237 [187-339] vs 210 [163-260]; p<0.01). The daily number of Emergency Medical Dispatch calls considerably increased (1502 [1133-2238] vs 1023 [960-1410]; p<0.01).ConclusionsOur study showed a decrease of the volume of IVT, whereas the volume of MT remained stable although intra-hospital delays increased for transferred patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. These results contrast in part with the national surveys and suggest that the impact of the pandemic may depend on local stroke care networks.

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Glucose Levels and Outcome After Primary Intraventricular Hemorrhage

Current Neurovascular Research ◽

10.2174/1567202616666190131164108 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 40-46

Author(s):

Rui Guo ◽

Ruiqi Chen ◽

Chao You ◽

Lu Ma ◽

Hao Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Blood Glucose ◽

Blood Glucose Level ◽

Incidence Rate ◽

Glucose Level ◽

Intraventricular Hemorrhage ◽

Laboratory Data ◽

History Of ◽

Poor Outcomes ◽

The Impact

Background and Purpose: Hyperglycemia is reported to be associated with poor outcome in patients with spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH), but the association between blood glucose level and outcomes in Primary Intraventricular Hemorrhage (PIVH) remains unclear. We sought to identify the parameters associated with admission hyperglycemia and analyze the impact of hyperglycemia on clinical outcome in patients with PIVH. Methods: Patients admitted to Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital with PIVH between 2010 and 2016 were retrospectively included in our study. Clinical, radiographic, and laboratory data were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors of poor outcomes. Results: One hundred and seventy patients were included in the analysis. Mean admission blood glucose level was 7.78±2.73 mmol/L and 10 patients (5.9%) had a history of diabetes mellitus. History of diabetes mellitus (P = 0.01; Odds Ratio [OR], 9.10; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.64 to 50.54) was independent predictor of admission critical hyperglycemia defined at 8.17 mmol/L. Patients with admission critical hyperglycemia poorer outcome at discharge (P < 0.001) and 90 days (P < 0.001). After adjustment, admission blood glucose was significantly associated with discharge (P = 0.01; OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.59) and 90-day poor outcomes (P = 0.03; OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.58), as well as mortality at 90 days (P = 0.005; OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.78). In addition, admission critical hyperglycemia showed significantly increased the incidence rate of pneumonia in PIVH (P = 0.02; OR, 6.04; 95% CI 1.27 to 28.80) even after adjusting for the confounders. Conclusion: Admission blood glucose after PIVH is associated with discharge and 90-day poor outcomes, as well as mortality at 90 days. Admission hyperglycemia significantly increases the incidence rate of pneumonia in PIVH.

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Stroke Care: Stroke Units, New Therapies, Advances and the Future

Understanding Stroke in a Global Context - Current Developments in Stroke ◽

10.2174/9781681085241116020007 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 81-97

Author(s):

Jeyaraj D. Pandian ◽

Akanksha G. William ◽

Peter Langhorne ◽

Richard Lindley

Keyword(s):

Stroke Care ◽

Stroke Units ◽

New Therapies ◽

The Future

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