Decline in mild stroke presentations and intravenous thrombolysis during the COVID-19 pandemic: The Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology Multicenter Collaboration.

ABSTRACT:

Background

To evaluate overall ischemic stroke volumes and rates, specific subtypes, and clinical presentation during the COVID-19 pandemic in a multicenter observational study from eight states across US.

Methods

We compared all ischemic strokes admitted between January 2019 and May 2020, grouped as; March-May 2020 (COVID-19 period) and March-May 2019 (seasonal pre-COVID-19 period). Primary outcome was stroke severity at admission measured by NIHSS stratified as mild (0-7), moderate [8-14], and severe (>14). Secondary outcomes were volume of large vessel occlusions (LVOs), stroke etiology, IV-tPA rates, and discharge disposition.

Results

Of the 7969 patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke during the study period, 933 (12 %) presented in the COVID-19 period whil

SUBMITTER: Ortega-Gutierrez S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7836428 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature