Scientific article
OA Policy
English

Changes in Prehospital Stroke Care and Stroke Mimic Patterns during the COVID-19 Lockdown

Publication date2021
Abstract

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on prehospital stroke care is largely unknown. We aimed to compare stroke care patterns before and during a state-wide lockdown. Thus, we analysed prospective data of stroke alerts referred to our stroke centre between 1 December 2019 and 16 June 2020, and compared them between two periods-15 weeks before and 13 weeks during the state-wide lockdown declared in Lithuania on 16 March 2020. Among 719 referrals for suspected stroke, there was a decrease in stroke alerts (rate ratio 0.61, 95% CI (0.52-0.71)), stroke admissions (0.63, 95% CI (0.52-0.76)), and decrease in prehospital stroke triage quality (positive predictive value 72.1% vs. 79.9%, p = 0.042) during the lockdown. The onset-to-door time was longer (153.0 vs. 120.5 min, p = 0.049) and seizures and intracranial tumours were more common among stroke mimics (16.9% vs. 6.7%, p = 0.012 and 9.6% vs. 3.0%, p = 0.037, respectively). We conclude that there was a decline in prehospital stroke triage quality during the lockdown despite low COVID-19 incidence in the country. Moreover, we observed an increase in hospital arrival delays and severe conditions presenting as stroke mimics. Our findings suggest that improved strategies are required to maintain optimal neurological care during public health emergencies.

Keywords
  • COVID-19
  • Emergency medical services
  • Misdiagnosis
  • Stroke
  • Stroke mimic
  • Triage
Citation (ISO format)
MELAIKA, Kazimieras et al. Changes in Prehospital Stroke Care and Stroke Mimic Patterns during the COVID-19 Lockdown. In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021, vol. 18, n° 4, p. 2150. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18042150
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
Identifiers
Additional URL for this publicationhttps://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/4/2150
Journal ISSN1660-4601
196views
178downloads

Technical informations

Creation24/03/2021 15:49:00
First validation24/03/2021 15:49:00
Update16/10/2024 17:45:57
Status update16/10/2024 17:45:57
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