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Stroke in the Time of COVID-19 Experience in Two University Stroke Centers in Egypt
15 Pages Posted: 27 Jul 2020
More...Abstract
Background: In the COVID-19 era, stroke patients might refrain from seeking medical help for fear of COVID-19 infection. Thus acute stroke pathway ought to be revised so as to maintain proper stroke care for patients and at the same time establish protection to health care providers. Moreover, it needs to be assessed to ensure efficiency.
Modifications for COVID-19: We displayed the modified acute stroke pathway implemented in the two stroke centers of our university hospital and compare the current situation with a similar time duration immediately antedating the declaration of the first COVID-19 case in Egypt.
Results: A total of 93 cases were admitted to ASU stroke centers over 50 days since the declaration of the first COVID-19 case in Egypt in comparison to 151 cases over a similar antedating period.During the period of COVID-19 pandemic a higher percentage of patients reached hospital in window, so the rate of IV thrombolysis and thrombectomy was higher than pre-COVID (p:0.009). Also patients showed severer stroke at baseline (p:0.02), however, NIHSS and mRS at discharge were equal in both groups .Both groups of patients showed similar age, gender, days spent in the hospital and stroke type. In addition, complications including respiratory infections showed no significant difference in the two time periods.
Conclusion: Acute stroke management is a dynamic process that should be subject to modification according to changing and challenging situations. Implementation of a modified stroke pathway compatible with infection control measures lead to an overall outcome similar in efficiency to the pre-COVID pathway.
Funding Statement: None.
Declaration of Interests: None.
Ethics Approval Statement: Approval was obtained by Ain Shams University faculty of medicine local research ethics committee to perform this study.
Keywords: Stroke, Egypt, COVID-19
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation