RT Journal Article
T1 Break in the Stroke Chain of Survival due to COVID-19.
A1 Montaner, Joan
A1 Barragan-Prieto, Ana
A1 Perez-Sanchez, Soledad
A1 Escudero-Martinez, Irene
A1 Moniche, Francisco
A1 Sanchez-Miura, Jose Antonio
A1 Ruiz-Bayo, Lidia
A1 Gonzalez, Alejandro
K1 acute disease
K1 coronavirus
K1 diagnosis
K1 pandemics
K1 reperfusion
K1 stroke
AB Emergency measures to treat patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and contain the outbreak is the main priority in each of our hospitals; however, these measures are likely to result in collateral damage among patients with other acute diseases. Here, we investigate whether the COVID-19 pandemic affects acute stroke care through interruptions in the stroke chain of survival. A descriptive analysis of acute stroke care activity before and after the COVID-19 outbreak is given for a stroke network in southern Europe. To quantify the impact of the pandemic, the number of stroke code activations, ambulance transfers, consultations through telestroke, stroke unit admissions, and reperfusion therapy times and rates are described in temporal relationship with the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the region. Following confinement of the population, our stroke unit activity decreased sharply, with a 25% reduction in admitted cases (mean number of 58 cases every 15 days in previous months to 44 cases in the 15 days after the outbreak, P30 minutes, reperfusion therapy cases fell, and door-to-needle time started 16 minutes later than usual. The COVID-19 pandemic is disruptive for acute stroke pathways. Bottlenecks in the access and delivery of patients to our secured stroke centers are among the main challenges. It is critical to encourage patients to continue seeking emergency care if experiencing acute stroke symptoms and to ensure that emergency professionals continue to use stroke code activation and telestroke networks.
PB Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
YR 2020
FD 2020-05-29
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/15653
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/15653
LA en
NO Montaner J, Barragán-Prieto A, Pérez-Sánchez S, Escudero-Martínez I, Moniche F, Sánchez-Miura JA, et al. Break in the Stroke Chain of Survival due to COVID-19. Stroke. 2020 Aug;51(8):2307-2314.
DS RISalud
RD Apr 11, 2025