D J Altschul1, N Haranhalli2, C Esenwa3, S R Unda2, R de La Garza Ramos2, J Dardick4, J Fernandez-Torres2, A Toma2, D Labovitz5, N Cheng5, S K Lee5, A Brook5, R Zampolin5. 1. Department of Neurosurgery (D.J.A., N.H., S.R.U., R.d.L.G.R., J.R.-T., A.T.) daltschu@montefiore.org. 2. Department of Neurosurgery (D.J.A., N.H., S.R.U., R.d.L.G.R., J.R.-T., A.T.). 3. Neurology (C.E.). 4. Albert Einstein College of Medicine (J.D.),, Bronx, New York. 5. Radiology (D.L., N.C., S.-K.L., A.B., R.Z.), Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Our hypothesis is that the COVID-19 pandemic led to delayed presentations for patients with acute ischemic stroke. This study evaluates the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on presentation, treatment, and outcomes of patients with emergent large-vessel occlusion using data from a large health system in the Bronx, New York. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 2 cohorts of consecutive patients with emergent large-vessel occlusion admitted to 3 Montefiore Health System hospitals in the Bronx from January 1 to February 17, 2020, (prepandemic) and March 1 to April 17, 2020 (pandemic). We abstracted data from the electronic health records on presenting biomarker profiles, admission and postprocedural NIHSS scores, time of symptom onset, time of hospital presentation, time of start of the thrombectomy procedure, time of revascularization, presenting ASPECTS, TICI recanalization score, mRS, functional outcomes, and mortality. RESULTS: Of 179 patients admitted with ischemic stroke during the study periods, 80 had emergent large-vessel occlusion, of whom 36 were in the pandemic group. Patients in the pandemic group were younger (66 versus 72 years, P < .061) and had lower ASPECTS (7 versus 9, P < .001) and took longer to arrive at the hospital (361 versus 152 minutes, P < .004) with no other major differences. There was a decreased rate of thrombolysis administration (22% versus 43%, P < .049) and a decreased number of patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy (33% versus 61%, P < .013). CONCLUSIONS: The pandemic led to delays in patients arriving at hospitals, leading to decreased patients eligible for treatment, while in-hospital evaluation and treatment times remain unchanged.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Our hypothesis is that the COVID-19 pandemic led to delayed presentations for patients with acute ischemic stroke. This study evaluates the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on presentation, treatment, and outcomes of patients with emergent large-vessel occlusion using data from a large health system in the Bronx, New York. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 2 cohorts of consecutive patients with emergent large-vessel occlusion admitted to 3 Montefiore Health System hospitals in the Bronx from January 1 to February 17, 2020, (prepandemic) and March 1 to April 17, 2020 (pandemic). We abstracted data from the electronic health records on presenting biomarker profiles, admission and postprocedural NIHSS scores, time of symptom onset, time of hospital presentation, time of start of the thrombectomy procedure, time of revascularization, presenting ASPECTS, TICI recanalization score, mRS, functional outcomes, and mortality. RESULTS: Of 179 patients admitted with ischemic stroke during the study periods, 80 had emergent large-vessel occlusion, of whom 36 were in the pandemic group. Patients in the pandemic group were younger (66 versus 72 years, P < .061) and had lower ASPECTS (7 versus 9, P < .001) and took longer to arrive at the hospital (361 versus 152 minutes, P < .004) with no other major differences. There was a decreased rate of thrombolysis administration (22% versus 43%, P < .049) and a decreased number of patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy (33% versus 61%, P < .013). CONCLUSIONS: The pandemic led to delays in patients arriving at hospitals, leading to decreased patients eligible for treatment, while in-hospital evaluation and treatment times remain unchanged.
Authors: Faysal Benali; Lotte J Stolze; Paul J Nederkoorn; Robert J van Oostenbrugge; Anouk D Rozeman; Wouter Dinkelaar; Jonathan M Coutinho; Bart J Emmer; Rob A R Gons; Lonneke F S Yo; Julia H van Tuijl; Issam Boukrab; Dianne H K van Dam-Nolen; Ido R van den Wijngaard; Geert J Lycklama À Nijeholt; Karlijn F de Laat; Lukas C van Dijk; Heleen M den Hertog; H Zwenneke Flach; Marieke J H Wermer; Marianne A A van Walderveen; Paul J A M Brouwers; Tomas Bulut; Sarah E Vermeer; Marie Louise E Bernsen; Maarten Uyttenboogaart; Reinoud P H Bokkers; Jeroen D Boogaarts; Frank-Erik de Leeuw; H Bart van der Worp; Irene C van der Schaaf; Wouter J Schonewille; Jan A Vos; Michel J M Remmers; Farshad Imani; Diederik W J Dippel; Wim H van Zwam Journal: BMC Neurol Date: 2022-01-11 Impact factor: 2.474