Dataset Information

Association of the COVID-19 outbreak with acute stroke care in Switzerland.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

In Switzerland, the COVID-19 incidence during the first pandemic wave was high. Our aim was to assess the association of the outbreak with acute stroke care in Switzerland in spring 2020.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis based on the Swiss Stroke Registry, which includes consecutive patients with acute cerebrovascular events admitted to Swiss Stroke Units and Stroke Centers. A linear model was fitted to the weekly admission from 2018 and 2019 and was used to quantify deviations from the expected weekly admissions from 13 March to 26 April 2020 (the "lockdown period"). Characteristics and 3-month outcome of patients admitted during the lockdown period were compared with patients admitted during the same calendar period of 2018 and 2019.

Results

In all, 28,310 patients admitted between 1 January 2018 and 26 April 2020 were included. Of these, 4491 (15.9%) were admitted in the periods March 13-April 26 of the years 2018-2020. During the lockdown in 2020, the weekly admissions dropped by up to 22% compared to rates expected from 2018 and 2019. During three consecutive weeks, weekly admissions fell below the 5% quantile (likelihood 0.38%). The proportion of intracerebral hemorrhage amongst all registered admissions increased from 7.1% to 9.3% (p = 0.006), and numerically less severe strokes were observed (median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale from 3 to 2, p = 0.07).

Conclusions

Admissions and clinical severity of acute cerebrovascular events decreased substantially during the lockdown in Switzerland. Delivery and quality of acute stroke care were maintained.

SUBMITTER: De Marchis GM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9305499 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Association of the COVID-19 outbreak with acute stroke care in Switzerland.

De Marchis Gian Marco GM Wright Patrick R PR Michel Patrik P Strambo Davide D Carrera Emmanuel E Dirren Elisabeth E Luft Andreas R AR Wegener Susanne S Cereda Carlo W CW Kägi Georg G Vehoff Jochen J Gensicke Henrik H Lyrer Philippe P Nedeltchev Krassen K Khales Timo T Bolognese Manuel M Salmen Stephan S Sturzenegger Rolf R Bonvin Christophe C Berger Christian C Schelosky Ludwig L Mono Marie-Luise ML Rodic Biljana B von Reding Andrea A Schwegler Guido G Tarnutzer Alexander A AA Medlin Friedrich F Humm Andrea M AM Peters Nils N Beyeler Morin M Kriemler Lilian L Bervini David D Fandino Javier J Hemkens Lars G LG Mordasini Pasquale P Arnold Marcel M Fischer Urs U Bonati Leo H LH

European journal of neurology 20220104 3

<h4>Background and purpose</h4>In Switzerland, the COVID-19 incidence during the first pandemic wave was high. Our aim was to assess the association of the outbreak with acute stroke care in Switzerland in spring 2020.<h4>Methods</h4>This was a retrospective analysis based on the Swiss Stroke Registry, which includes consecutive patients with acute cerebrovascular events admitted to Swiss Stroke Units and Stroke Centers. A linear model was fitted to the weekly admission from 2018 and 2019 and wa ...[more]

PMID: 34894018

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Project description:BACKGROUND:COVID-19 appeared in late 2019, causing a pandemic spread. This led to a reorganisation of oncology care in order to reduce the risk of spreading infection between patients and healthcare staff. Here we analysed measures taken in major oncological units in Europe and the USA. METHODS:A 46-item survey was sent by email to representatives of 30 oncological centres in 12 of the most affected countries. The survey inquired about preventive measures established to reduce virus spread, patient education and processes employed for risk reduction in each oncological unit. RESULTS:Investigators from 21 centres in 10 countries answered the survey between 10 April and 6 May 2020. A triage for patients with cancer before hospital or clinic visits was conducted by 90.5% of centres before consultations, 95.2% before day care admissions and in 100% of the cases before overnight hospitalisation by means of phone calls, interactive online platforms, swab test and/or chest CT scan. Permission for caregivers to attend clinic visits was limited in many centres, with some exceptions (ie, for non-autonomous patients, in the case of a new diagnosis, when bad news was expected and for terminally ill patients). With a variable delay period, the use of personal protective equipment was unanimously mandatory, and in many centres, only targeted clinical and instrumental examinations were performed. Telemedicine was implemented in 76.2% of the centres. Separated pathways for COVID-19-positive and COVID-19-negative patients were organised, with separate inpatient units and day care areas. Self-isolation was required for COVID-19-positive or symptomatic staff, while return to work policies required a negative swab test in 76.2% of the centres. CONCLUSION:Many pragmatic measures have been quickly implemented to deal with the health emergency linked to COVID-19, although the relative efficacy of each intervention should be further analysed in large observational studies.

Dataset Information

Association of the COVID-19 outbreak with acute stroke care in Switzerland.

Background and purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Association of the COVID-19 outbreak with acute stroke care in Switzerland.

Similar Datasets

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