scholarly journals Changes in Stroke Patients’ Health-Seeking Behavior by COVID-19 Epidemic Regions: Data from the Korean Stroke Registry

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Han-Yeong Jeong ◽  
Eung-Joon Lee ◽  
Min Kyoung Kang ◽  
Ki-Woong Nam ◽  
Jeonghoon Bae ◽  
...  

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to changes in stroke patients’ healthcare use. This study evaluated changes in Korean stroke patients’ health-seeking behaviors and stroke care services using data from the Korean Stroke Registry (KSR). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We reviewed data from patients with acute stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) during 2019 (before COVID-19 period) and 2020 (COVID-19 period). Outcomes included patient characteristics, time from stroke onset to hospital arrival, and in-hospital stroke pathways. Subgroup analyses were performed for an epidemic region (Daegu city and Gyeongsangbuk-do region, the D-G region). <b><i>Results:</i></b> The study included 1,792 patients from the pre-COVID-19 period and 1,555 patients from the COVID-19 period who visited hospitals that contribute to the KSR. During the COVID-19 period, the D-G region had two-thirds the number of cases (vs. the pre-CO­VID-19 period) and a significant decrease in the proportion of patients with TIA (9.97%–2.91%). Unlike other regions, the median onset-to-door time increased significantly in the D-G region (361 min vs. 526.5 min, <i>p</i> = 0.016), and longer onset-to-door times were common for patients with mild symptoms and who were in their 60s or 70s. The number of patients who underwent intravenous thrombolysis also decreased during the COVID-19 period, although the treatment times were not significantly different between the 2 periods. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> Korean stroke patients in a CO­VID-19 epidemic region exhibited distinct changes in health-seeking behaviors. Appropriate triage system and public education regarding the importance of early treatment are needed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Han-yeong Jeong ◽  
Eung-Jun Lee ◽  
Min Kyoung Kang ◽  
Ki-woong Nam ◽  
Jeonghoon Bae ◽  
...  

Background and purpose: With the wide spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) around the world, not only patients with COVID-19, but also patients with other disease such as stroke have undergone many changes in their health-seeking behavior. Between late February and March 2020, COVID-19 was epidemic in the community of Daegu city and Gyeongsangbuk-do region (D-G region) in Korea. We aimed to clarify the changes in the health-seeking behaviors of stroke patients and stroke care services by region in Korea through analysis of data from Korean Stroke Registry (KSR). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data with acute stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients between 2019 and 2020. We compared the stroke onset to hospital arrival (onset-to-door) time of these patients in the D-G region and other regions in Korea during the epidemic period in 2020 (post-COVID-19: February 18-March 31, 2020) and the same period in 2019 (Pre-COVID-19). In addition, we investigated the in-hospital stroke pathways with the patients. Results: 1,792 patients in pre-COVID-19 and 1,555 patients in post-COVID-19 who visited KSR-registered hospitals were analyzed. Compared to pre-COVID-19, the number of patients registered in KSR decreased in most regions in post-COVID-19. In the D-G region, the number of registered patients decreased by two thirds, and the proportion of patients with TIA decreased significantly. (9.97% to 2.91%). Unlike other regions, the median onset-to-door time increased significantly in the D-G region (361 versus 526.5 minutes, p=0.0084). The proportion of patients with onset-to-door time within 3 hours also decreased significantly (36.45% versus 28.16%, p=0.0485). Patients in their 60s and 70s and mild symptoms (NIHSS score 0 to 3) came to the hospital later. As a result, the patients who underwent thrombectomy also decreased, but the treatment time did not differ between the two periods. Conclusion: During the epidemic of COVID-19, the patients residing in the epicenter showed distinct changes in health-seeking behavior. Appropriate public education about stroke is needed during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Author(s):  
Zhenzhen Rao ◽  
Zixiao Li ◽  
Hongqiu Gu ◽  
Yilong Wang ◽  
Yongjun Wang

Background: Intravenous Thrombolysis with Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator (rt-PA) availability at Chinese hospitals varies and may affect care quality for acute ischemic stroke patients. Limited research has shown whether there were differences in quality of care at China National Stroke Registry (CNSR II) hospitals based on rt-PA capability. Methods: For acute ischemic stroke patients admitted to CNSR II hospitals between 2012 and 2013, care quality at hospitals with or without Intravenous rt-PA capability was examined by evaluating conformity with performance and quality measures. The primary outcome was guideline-concordant care, defined as compliance with 10 predefined individual guideline-recommended performance metrics and composite score. A composite score was defined as the total number of interventions actually performed among eligible patients divided by the total number of recommended interventions among eligible patients. Propensity score matching was used to balance the baseline characteristics. We used cox model with shared frailty model and logistic regression with generalized estimating equation to compare the relationship between hospitals with rt-PA capability and hospitals without rt-PA on quality measures. Results: This study included 19604 acute ischemic stroke patients admitted to 219 CNSR II hospitals. Before matching, there were 7928 patients admitted to 86 (40.4%) hospitals with rt-PA capability and 11676 patients admitted to 133 (59.6%) hospitals without rt-PA capability. After matching, 7606 pairs of patients in rt-PA-capable hospitals and rt-PA-incapable hospitals were analyzed. Before matching, the composite score of guideline-concordant process of care was higher at hospitals with rt-PA capability than hospitals without rt-PA capability (74% versus 73%, P=0.0126). Hospitals with rt-PA capability were more likely to perform deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis within 48 hours of admission, dysphagia screening, assessment or receiving of rehabilitation, discharge antithrombotic, anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation and medications for lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) ≥100mg/dL. But hospitals with rt-PA capability were less likely to perform antithrombotic medication within 48 hours of admission and hypoglycemic therapy at discharge for patients with diabetes. After matching, differences of stroke care quality between hospitals with rt-PA capability and without rt-PA capability still exist after adjusting covariates. Conclusions: The CNSR II hospitals were associated with better performance in some of the hospitals but not all of them. The difference in conformity between rt-PA-capable hospitals and rt-PA-incapable hospitals was modest for performance measures of stroke care. However, more room for improvement still exists in key quality performance measures and further studies should be explored.


Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Danny R Rose ◽  
Stephen L Grupke ◽  
Justin F Fraser ◽  
Patrick H Kitzman ◽  
Kelley L Elkins ◽  
...  

Introduction: Change in NIH Stroke Scale from admission to discharge has been proposed as an outcome-based method of assessing quality of care in the inpatient setting. Using the Kentucky Appalachian Stroke Registry database, statistical outliers were identified as potential targets for investigation. We aimed to use the analysis of this subset of patients to identify characteristics favoring exceptionally good or poor outcome. Methods: De-identified patient data was obtained from the Kentucky Appalachian Stroke Registry for all acute ischemic stroke patients from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014 using discharge diagnoses. Statistical process control methodology was used to identify hospitalizations with positive or negative NIHSS change more than three standard deviations from the mean. The statistical outliers underwent manual chart review to validate the data obtained from the registry and supplement it qualitatively to identify common characteristics. Chi-square tests were conducted to assess the association between patient characteristics and being a positive or negative outlier. Results: Positive outliers were less likely to have hypertension and more likely to have received intravenous thrombolysis. Negative outliers were more likely to have carotid stenosis. Both groups were more likely to have a diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmia and to have received mechanical thrombectomy. Conclusions: Gathering registry data regarding NIHSS outliers is a feasible and potentially useful tool in understanding and improving care. The absence of hypertension may represent positive predictive recovery potential in severe stroke. Patients with significant carotid disease on presentation may be at risk of neurological decline. Furthermore, patients with large vessel occlusions undergoing thrombectomy represent a high-variance population with the greatest improvements and greatest deteriorations during inpatient hospitalization.


Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Jaeger ◽  
Jose I Suarez ◽  
Sean I Savitz ◽  
Kate Ramos ◽  
Darrell Pile ◽  
...  

Uniting Hospital Leaders in a Competitive Region To Improve Intravenous Thrombolysis Treatment Rates: Analysis of the SETRAC Stroke Registry Background: The Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC) convenes representatives from area hospitals belonging to different health systems to discuss how to improve the delivery of stroke care in a nine county area that includes Houston, Texas. In 2014, area hospitals agreed to focus upon improving tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration rates in the area. Hypothesis: By sharing stroke metrics in a blinded fashion on a consistent basis, tPA administration rates will improve. The theory was tested by tracking the following metrics: a. percent of ischemic stroke patients receiving tPA. b. percent of treated patients receiving tPA within 60 minutes of arrival at the hospital. Methods: SETRAC aligned regional metrics with stroke treatment and timing metrics in Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke beginning in Q3 2014. SETRAC compiled and shared this data with stroke coordinators and hospital administrators on a quarterly basis. Bar graphs were utilized for benchmarking hospitals in a blinded fashion. Linear tests were performed to validate increases in the percent of patients treated with tPA and the percent of patients treated within 60 minutes of arrival at the hospital. Results from hospitals that consistently reported data for each of the six quarters were included in the analysis. Results: Twenty-six area hospitals reported 10,396 ischemic stroke patients between Q3 2014 through Q4 2015. In that time, tPA administration increased from 10.3% in Q3 2014 to 12.0% in Q4 2015 (p<0.001). Further, tPA administration within 60 minutes of arrival in emergency room increased from 55.3% in Q3 2014 to 66.7% in Q4 2015 (p<0.001). In conclusion, following the uniting of hospital leaders and utilizing nationally aligned stroke metrics, a higher percentage of ischemic stroke patients received tPA. Of those that received tPA, an improvement in the timeliness of administration was also realized.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyo Suk Nam ◽  
Young Dae Kim ◽  
Joonsang Yoo ◽  
Hyungjong Park ◽  
Byung Moon Kim ◽  
...  

AbstractThe eligibility of reperfusion therapy has been expanded to increase the number of patients. However, it remains unclear the reperfusion therapy will be beneficial in stroke patients with various comorbidities. We developed a reperfusion comorbidity index for predicting 6-month mortality in patients with acute stroke receiving reperfusion therapy. The 19 comorbidities included in the Charlson comorbidity index were adopted and modified. We developed a statistical model and it was validated using data from a prospective cohort. Among 1026 patients in the retrospective nationwide reperfusion therapy registry, 845 (82.3%) had at least one comorbidity. As the number of comorbidities increased, the likelihood of mortality within 6 months also increased (p < 0.001). Six out of the 19 comorbidities were included for developing the reperfusion comorbidity index on the basis of the odds ratios in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. This index showed good prediction of 6-month mortality in the retrospective cohort (area under the curve [AUC], 0.747; 95% CI, 0.704–0.790) and in 333 patients in the prospective cohort (AUC, 0.784; 95% CI, 0.709–0.859). Consideration of comorbidities might be helpful for the prediction of the 6-month mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke who receive reperfusion therapy.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Silvia Pastor ◽  
Elena de Celis ◽  
Itsaso Losantos García ◽  
María Alonso de Leciñana ◽  
Blanca Fuentes ◽  
...  

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Stroke is a serious health problem, given it is the second leading cause of death and a major cause of disability in the European Union. Our study aimed to assess the impact of stroke care organization measures (such as the development of stroke units, implementation of a regional stroke code, and treatment with intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy) implemented from 1997 to 2017 on hospital admissions due to stroke and mortality attributed to stroke in the Madrid health region. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Epidemiological data were obtained from the National Statistics Institute public website. We collected data on the number of patients discharged with a diagnosis of stroke, in-hospital mortality due to stroke and the number of inhabitants in the Madrid health region each year. We calculated rates of discharges and mortality due to stroke and the number of inhabitants per SU bed, and we analysed temporal trends in in-hospital mortality due to stroke using the Daniels test in 2 separate time periods (before and after 2011). Figures representing annual changes in these data from 1997 to 2017 were elaborated, marking stroke care organizational measures in the year they were implemented to visualize their temporal relation with changes in stroke statistics. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Hospital discharges with a diagnosis of stroke have increased from 170.3/100,000 inhabitants in 1997 to 230.23/100,000 inhabitants in 2017. However, the in-hospital mortality rate due to stroke has decreased (from 33.3 to 15.2%). A statistically significant temporal trend towards a decrease in the mortality percentage and rate was found from 1997 to 2011. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Our study illustrates how measures such as the development of stroke units, implementation of a regional stroke code and treatment with intravenous thrombolysis coincide in time with a reduction in in-hospital mortality due to stroke.


2021 ◽  
pp. 174749302098526
Author(s):  
Juliane Herm ◽  
Ludwig Schlemm ◽  
Eberhard Siebert ◽  
Georg Bohner ◽  
Anna C Alegiani ◽  
...  

Background Functional outcome post-stroke depends on time to recanalization. Effect of in-hospital delay may differ in patients directly admitted to a comprehensive stroke center and patients transferred via a primary stroke center. We analyzed the current door-to-groin time in Germany and explored its effect on functional outcome in a real-world setting. Methods Data were collected in 25 stroke centers in the German Stroke Registry-Endovascular Treatment a prospective, multicenter, observational registry study including stroke patients with large vessel occlusion. Functional outcome was assessed at three months by modified Rankin Scale. Association of door-to-groin time with outcome was calculated using binary logistic regression models. Results Out of 4340 patients, 56% were treated primarily in a comprehensive stroke center and 44% in a primary stroke center and then transferred to a comprehensive stroke center (“drip-and-ship” concept). Median onset-to-arrival at comprehensive stroke center time and door-to-groin time were 103 and 79 min in comprehensive stroke center patients and 225 and 44 min in primary stroke center patients. The odds ratio for poor functional outcome per hour of onset-to-arrival-at comprehensive stroke center time was 1.03 (95%CI 1.01–1.05) in comprehensive stroke center patients and 1.06 (95%CI 1.03–1.09) in primary stroke center patients. The odds ratio for poor functional outcome per hour of door-to-groin time was 1.30 (95%CI 1.16–1.46) in comprehensive stroke center patients and 1.04 (95%CI 0.89–1.21) in primary stroke center patients. Longer door-to-groin time in comprehensive stroke center patients was associated with admission on weekends (odds ratio 1.61; 95%CI 1.37–1.97) and during night time (odds ratio 1.52; 95%CI 1.27–1.82) and use of intravenous thrombolysis (odds ratio 1.28; 95%CI 1.08–1.50). Conclusion Door-to-groin time was especially relevant for outcome of comprehensive stroke center patients, whereas door-to-groin time was much shorter in primary stroke center patients. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03356392 . Unique identifier NCT03356392


Stroke ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Archit Bhatt ◽  
Elizabeth Barban ◽  
Leslie Corless ◽  
Tamela Stuchiner ◽  
Amit Kansara

Background: Research has shown that subjects evaluated at (Primary Stroke Centers) PSCs are more likely to receive rt–PA than those evaluated at non–PSCs. It is unknown if telestroke evaluation affects rt-PA rates at non-PSCs. We hypothesized that with a robust telestroke system rt-TPA rates among PSCs and non-PSCs are not significantly different. Methods and Results: Data were obtained from the Providence Stroke Registry from January 2010 to December 2012. We identified ischemic stroke patients (n=3307) who received care in Oregon and Southwest Washington, which include 2 PSCs and 14 non-PSCs. Intravenous rt–PA was administered to 7.3% (n=242) of ischemic patients overall, 8.4% (n=79) at non–PSCs and 6.9% (n=163) at PSCs (p=.135). Stroke neurologists evaluated 5.2 % (n=172) of all ischemic stroke patients (n=3307) were evaluated via telestroke robot. Our analysis included AIS (Acute Ischemic Stroke) patients, those presenting within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. We identified 1070 AIS discharges from 16 hospitals of which 77.9 % (n=833) were at PSCs and 22.1 % (n=237) non-PSCs. For acute ischemic stroke patients (AIS) patients, those presenting within 4.5 hours of symptom onset, 22.1% (n=237) received rt-PA; 21.5% (n=74) presented at non–PSCs and 23.7% (n=163) presented at PSCs. Among AIS, bivariate analysis showed significant differences in treatment rates by race, age, NIHSS at admit, previous stroke or TIA, PVD, use of robot, smoking and time from patient arrival to CT completed. Using multiple logistic regression adjusting for these variables, treatment was significantly related to admit NIHSS (AOR=1.67, p<.001), history of stroke (AOR=.323, p<.001), TIA (AOR=.303, p=.01) and PVD (AOR=.176, p=.02), time to CT (.971, p<.001), and use of robot (7.76, p<.001). PSC designation was not significantly related to treatment (p=.06). Conclusions: Through the use of a robust telestroke system, there are no significant differences in the TPA treatment rates between non-PSC and PSC facilities. Telestroke systems can ensure stroke patients access to acute stroke care at non-PSC hospitals.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie Corless ◽  
Tamela L Stuchiner ◽  
Cameron Garvin ◽  
Alexandra C Lesko ◽  
Elizabeth Baraban

Background: Few studies have shown the impact of substance use (SU) on treatment and outcomes of stroke patients. Research suggests stigma related to SU impacts patient experience in healthcare settings. In this study we assessed whether there were differences in patient characteristics and outcomes for stroke patients with SU compared to those with no substance use (NSU). Methods: Retrospective data from two Oregon hospitals included patients admitted with stroke diagnosis, 18 years or older, who discharged between October 2017 and May 2019. Patients with documented SU and specific SU type were compared to patients with NSU with regard to demographics, medical history, stroke subtypes, treatment, discharge disposition and length of stay (LOS). SU was defined as any documented abuse of alcohol (ETOH), methamphetamine (MA), cannabis, opiates, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and Methyl-enedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA). Non parametric median tests and Pearson’s chi square tests were used. Results: Among 2,030 patients included in the analysis, 13.8% (n=280) were SU and 86.2% (n=1,750) were NSU. Patients with SU were significantly younger, median age (61 vs. 73, p <.001) and less were female (35.4% vs. 53.6%, p <0.001). Those with SU had lower prevalence of dyslipidemia (43.6% vs. 59.5%, p <0.001), AFIB (12.5% vs. 22.2%, p <0.001), and previous TIA (6.1% vs 10.8%, p=0.02), and more smoked (54.3% vs 13.3% p <0.001). More patients with SU arrived via transfer (38.4% vs 27.4%, p=.001). Fewer patients with SU expired or were discharged to hospice (8.9% vs 13.7%) and a greater percent left against medical advice (AMA) (3.2% vs 0.6%) (p<.001). When comparing specific SU types to NSU, all SU groups were younger, had similar medical histories and a greater proportion left AMA. Only MA users had differentiating stroke diagnoses with a higher percent of SAH (14.5% vs 5.6%) (p=.003) in addition to longer LOS (6 vs 4 days, p=.006). No differences were found in acute stroke treatment rates. Conclusion: Patients with SU were demographically different from the NSU population and did differentiate on some stroke care outcomes and processes, potentially indicating opportunities to address stigma around substance use to meet the needs of patients with both stroke and substance use.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zixiao Li ◽  
Chunjuan Wang ◽  
Yong Jiang ◽  
Xinmiao Zhang ◽  
Ying Xian ◽  
...  

BackgroundIn 2009, China launched ambitious healthcare reform plans to provide affordable and equitable basic healthcare for all patients, including the substantial number of patients who had a stroke. However, little is known about the pattern of evidence-based stroke care and outcomes across hospitals, regions and time during the last decade.AimsThe Patient-centered Retrospective Observation of Guideline-Recommended Execution for Stroke Sufferers in China (China PROGRESS) Study aims to use findings from a representative sample of Chinese hospitals over the last decade to improve future stroke care for patients hospitalised with ischaemic stroke (IS) or transient ischaemic attack (TIA).DesignThe China PROGRESS Study will use a two-stage cluster sampling method to identify over 32000 patient records from 208 hospitals across the Eastern, Central and Western geographical regions in China. To assess the temporal trends in patient characteristics, treatment and outcomes, study investigators will select records from 2005, 2010 and 2015. A double data reading/entry system will be developed to conduct this assessment. A central coordinating centre will monitor case ascertainment, data abstraction and data management. Analyses will examine patient characteristics, testing patterns, in-hospital treatment and outcomes, and variations across regions and across time.ConclusionsThe China PROGRESS Study is the first nationally representative study that aims to better understand care quality and outcomes for patients with IS or TIA before and after the national healthcare reform in China. This initiative will translate findings into clinical practices that improve care quality for patients who had a stroke and policy recommendations that allow these changes to be implemented widely.Ethics approvalThis study has also been approved by the central institutional review board (IRB) at Beijing Tiantan Hospital.


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