Early Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Acute Stroke Treatment Delays. (23rd January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Neves Briard, Joel; Ducroux, Célina; Jacquin, Grégory; Alesefir, Walid; Boisseau, William; Daneault, Nicole; Deschaintre, Yan; Eneling, Johanna; Gioia, Laura C.; Iancu, Dana; Odier, Céline; Raymond, Jean; Roy, Daniel; Stapf, Christian; Weill, Alain; Poppe, Alexandre Y.
• Is Part Of: Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Volume 48:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 122
• Page End: 126
• Publication Date: 2021-01-23
• Subjects: Acute stroke, -- Coronavirus, -- COVID-19, -- SARS-CoV-2, -- Comprehensive stroke center; Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1017/cjn.2020.160
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0317-1671

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This is an observational cohort study comparing 156 patients evaluated for acute stroke between March 30 and May 31, 2020 at a comprehensive stroke center with 138 patients evaluated during the corresponding time period in 2019. During the pandemic, the proportion of COVID-19 positive patients was low (3%), the time from symptom onset to hospital presentation was significantly longer, and a smaller proportion of patients underwent reperfusion therapy. Among patients directly evaluated at our institution, door-to-needle and door-to-recanalization metrics were significantly longer. Our findings support concerns that the current pandemic may have a negative impact on the management of acute stroke.