Nisha Pandey

Health and Me

COVID-19 Disrupted Stroke Treatment, Care & Worsened Outcomes: Global Review Of 107 Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic did more than overwhelm global healthcare systems. It also disrupted timely care for people experiencing strokes. 

Published in <em><span rel="noindex">European Medical Journal</span></em>, a global review of 107 studies has found that patients delayed hospital visits, stroke-related hospital admissions fell and treatment became harder to access during the pandemic. 

The review, which examined research published between December 2019 and September 2024, looked at how the pandemic affected <span>stroke</span> care from the moment symptoms began through hospital treatment and recovery. Researchers initially screened 1,405 studies before including 107 in their analysis. 

<h2>Stroke Patients Delayed Going To Hospital </h2>

One of the alarming patterns among <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/mammogram-may-spot-hidden-heart-risk-that-doctors-miss-in-women-article-156252702" data-type="tilCustomLink">stroke</a> victims was a delay in seeking medical help. People experiencing <span>stroke symptoms</span> were reluctant to go to hospitals because they feared catching COVID-19 or believed healthcare facilities were already overwhelmed. 

The delay was particularly noticeable among people with milder stroke symptoms; some of whom reached hospitals after critical treatment windows had passed. 

The findings are a cause of concern as <span>stroke treatment</span> is extremely time-sensitive. Delays can prevent patients from seeking timely treatments to restore blood flow to the brain.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/surgeon-in-gurugram-patient-in-hyderabad-could-robotic-telesurgery-bring-specialists-to-smaller-cities-article-156271856" data-type="tilCustomLink">Surgeon In Gurugram, Patient In Hyderabad: Could Robotic Telesurgery Bring Specialists To Smaller Cities?</a> 

Several studies included in the review reported a decline in <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/100-blockage-at-18-25-patients-under-40-on-world-heart-day-cardiologists-reveal-an-alarming-heart-attack-pattern-article-156243737" data-type="tilCustomLink">stroke admissions</a> during the pandemic. One study found a 31% decrease in monthly admissions for ischaemic stroke, while another reported a 44% reduction. 

The drop did not mean fewer people were having strokes. Instead, researchers found evidence that some patients may simply have avoided or delayed seeking emergency care. 

When patients did reach hospitals, several studies found they were more likely to have more severe strokes than patients treated before the pandemic.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/innovations-in-structural-heart-care-the-shift-towards-minimally-invasive-therapies-article-156260669" data-type="tilCustomLink">Innovations in Structural Heart Care: The Shift Towards Minimally Invasive Therapies</a> 

<h2>Stroke Treatment Was Delayed Inside Hospitals </h2>

The disruption was not limited to patients' decisions about when to seek help. Hospitals had to reorganise resources and reassign staff towards <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/who-global-life-expectancy-returns-to-pre-pandemic-levels-but-ncds-resulted-in-8-out-10-deaths-article-156271505" data-type="tilCustomLink">COVID-19</a> response. These changes affected stroke services and contributed to delays in treatment. 

The review also identified increases in both symptom-to-door time, the period between stroke symptoms beginning and reaching hospital, and door-to-treatment time, the period between arriving at hospital and receiving treatment to restore blood flow. Ambulance services also faced additional pressure during the pandemic.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/heart-attack-of-the-leg-women-may-overlook-this-leg-symptom-that-signals-blocked-arteries-heart-risk-article-156252114" data-type="tilCustomLink">'Heart Attack Of The Leg': Women May Overlook This Leg Symptom That Signals Blocked Arteries &amp; Heart Risk</a> 

<h2>Delays Affected Stroke Recovery </h2>

The review found evidence that the disruption was associated with poorer outcomes for some stroke patients. One study reported significantly greater disability at discharge during the pandemic, with a median modified <span>Rankin Scale</span> score of 4 compared with 2 before the <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/who-sets-2027-flu-vaccine-strains-states-can-now-order-free-covid-shots-for-kids-article-156226113" data-type="tilCustomLink">pandemic</a>. The difference remained at three months after the stroke. 

Another analysis reported higher mortality at discharge among patients treated during the pandemic, at 7.7% compared with 2.5% in a pre-pandemic group. 

<h2>Role Of Telemedicine In Stroke Care During Pandemic</h2>

How to Protect Your Lungs From Childhood to Old Age | World Lung Day

Telemedicine refers to seeking healthcare remotely using technology, without the doctor and patient needing to be in the same physical location. 

Telemedicine helped maintain some continuity of stroke care during the pandemic, but access was not even everywhere. 

The review found that younger patients were more likely to use remote healthcare services, while older adults didn't. 

This raises concerns about whether telemedicine can adequately support people who may have greater healthcare needs but face barriers to digital access. 

The researchers added that said future preparedness should focus on keeping stroke services accessible, ensuring equitable access to telemedicine and educating patients about the need to seek emergency care promptly.

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The COVID-19 pandemic did more than overwhelm global healthcare systems. It also disrupted timely care for people experiencing strokes. Published in European Medical Journal, a global review of 107 studies has found that patients delayed hospital visits, stroke-related hospital admissions fell and treatment became harder to access during the pandemic. The review, which examined research published between December 2019 and September 2024, looked at how the pandemic affected stroke care from the moment symptoms began through hospital treatment and recovery. Researchers initially screened 1,405 studies before including 107 in their analysis. Stroke Patients Delayed Going To Hospital One of the alarming patterns among stroke victims was a delay in seeking medical help. People experiencing stroke symptoms were reluctant to go to hospitals because they feared catching COVID-19 or believed healthcare facilities were already overwhelmed. The delay was particularly noticeable among people with milder stroke symptoms; some of whom reached hospitals after critical treatment windows had passed. The findings are a cause of concern as stroke treatment is extremely time-sensitive. Delays can prevent patients from seeking timely treatments to restore blood flow to the brain.Also read: Surgeon In Gurugram, Patient In Hyderabad: Could Robotic Telesurgery Bring Specialists To Smaller Cities? Stroke Admissions Declined Several studies included in the review reported a decline in stroke admissions during the pandemic. One study found a 31% decrease in monthly admissions for ischaemic stroke, while another reported a 44% reduction. The drop did not mean fewer people were having strokes. Instead, researchers found evidence that some patients may simply have avoided or delayed seeking emergency care. When patients did reach hospitals, several studies found they were more likely to have more severe strokes than patients treated before the pandemic.Also read: Innovations in Structural Heart Care: The Shift Towards Minimally Invasive Therapies Stroke Treatment Was Delayed Inside Hospitals The disruption was not limited to patients' decisions about when to seek help. Hospitals had to reorganise resources and reassign staff towards COVID-19 response. These changes affected stroke services and contributed to delays in treatment. The review also identified increases in both symptom-to-door time, the period between stroke symptoms beginning and reaching hospital, and door-to-treatment time, the period between arriving at hospital and receiving treatment to restore blood flow. Ambulance services also faced additional pressure during the pandemic.Also read: 'Heart Attack Of The Leg': Women May Overlook This Leg Symptom That Signals Blocked Arteries & Heart Risk Delays Affected Stroke Recovery The review found evidence that the disruption was associated with poorer outcomes for some stroke patients. One study reported significantly greater disability at discharge during the pandemic, with a median modified Rankin Scale score of 4 compared with 2 before the pandemic. The difference remained at three months after the stroke. Another analysis reported higher mortality at discharge among patients treated during the pandemic, at 7.7% compared with 2.5% in a pre-pandemic group. Role Of Telemedicine In Stroke Care During Pandemic                  Telemedicine refers to seeking healthcare remotely using technology, without the doctor and patient needing to be in the same physical location. Telemedicine helped maintain some continuity of stroke care during the pandemic, but access was not even everywhere. The review found that younger patients were more likely to use remote healthcare services, while older adults didn't. This raises concerns about whether telemedicine can adequately support people who may have greater healthcare needs but face barriers to digital access. The researchers added that said future preparedness should focus on keeping stroke services accessible, ensuring equitable access to telemedicine and educating patients about the need to seek emergency care promptly.

covid-19 disrupted stroke treatment, care & worsened outcomes: global review of 107 studies

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COVID-19 Disrupted Stroke Treatment, Care & Worsened Outcomes: Global Review Of 107 Studies

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COVID-19 Disrupted Stroke Treatment, Care & Worsened Outcomes: Global Review Of 107 Studies

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