Espen Saxhaug Kristoffersen1,2, Silje Holt Jahr3,4, Kashif Waqar Faiz3, Bente Thommessen3, Ole Morten Rønning3,4. 1. Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, PO Box 1000, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway. e.s.kristoffersen@medisin.uio.no. 2. Department of General Practice, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. e.s.kristoffersen@medisin.uio.no. 3. Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, PO Box 1000, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway. 4. Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There was a significant decrease in stroke admissions during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are concerns that stroke patients have not sought medical attention and in the months after the lockdown suffer recurrent severe strokes. The aims of this study were to investigate how stroke admission rates and distributions of severity varied before, during and after the lockdown in a representative Norwegian hospital population. METHODS: All patients discharged from Akershus University Hospital with a diagnosis of transient ischemic attack (TIA) or acute stroke from January to September 2020 were identified by hospital chart review. RESULTS: We observed a transient decrease in weekly stroke admissions during lockdown from an average of 21.4 (SD 4.7) before to 15.0 (SD 4.2) during and 17.2 (SD 3.3) after (p < 0.011). The proportion of mild ischemic and haemorrhagic strokes was also lower during lockdown with 66% before, 57% during and 68% after (p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: The period of COVID-19 lockdown was associated with a temporary reduction in total admissions of strokes. In particular, there were fewer with TIA and mild stroke. Given the need to prevent the worsening of symptoms and risk of recurrence, it is necessary to emphasise the importance to seek medical care even in states of emergency.
BACKGROUND: There was a significant decrease in stroke admissions during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are concerns that strokepatients have not sought medical attention and in the months after the lockdown suffer recurrent severe strokes. The aims of this study were to investigate how stroke admission rates and distributions of severity varied before, during and after the lockdown in a representative Norwegian hospital population. METHODS: All patients discharged from Akershus University Hospital with a diagnosis of transient ischemic attack (TIA) or acute stroke from January to September 2020 were identified by hospital chart review. RESULTS: We observed a transient decrease in weekly stroke admissions during lockdown from an average of 21.4 (SD 4.7) before to 15.0 (SD 4.2) during and 17.2 (SD 3.3) after (p < 0.011). The proportion of mild ischemic and haemorrhagicstrokes was also lower during lockdown with 66% before, 57% during and 68% after (p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: The period of COVID-19 lockdown was associated with a temporary reduction in total admissions of strokes. In particular, there were fewer with TIA and mild stroke. Given the need to prevent the worsening of symptoms and risk of recurrence, it is necessary to emphasise the importance to seek medical care even in states of emergency.
Entities:
Keywords:
Emergency care; Health care planning; Pandemic; Stroke; Stroke care pathways
Authors: Henriette C Jodal; Frederik E Juul; Ishita Barua; Michael Bretthauer; Mette Kalager; Magnus Løberg; Louise Emilsson Journal: Scand J Public Health Date: 2022-05-12 Impact factor: 3.199