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Delays in thrombolysis during COVID-19 are associated with worse neurological outcomes: the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology Multicenter Collaboration
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Delays in thrombolysis during COVID-19 are associated with worse neurological outcomes: the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology Multicenter Collaboration

Dinesh V Jillella, Fadi Nahab, Thanh N Nguyen, Mohamad Abdalkader, David S Liebeskind, Nirav Vora, Vivek Rai, Diogo C Haussen, Raul G Nogueira, Shashvat Desai, …
Journal of neurology, Vol.269(2), pp.603-608
02/2022
DOI: 10.1007/s00415-021-10734-z
PMCID: PMC8325534
PMID: 34333701
url
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-021-10734-zView
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

We have demonstrated in a multicenter cohort that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a delay in intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) among stroke patients. Whether this delay contributes to meaningful short-term outcome differences in these patients warranted further exploration. We conducted a nested observational cohort study of adult acute ischemic stroke patients receiving IVT from 9 comprehensive stroke centers across 7 U.S states. Patients admitted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (1/1/2019-02/29/2020) were compared to patients admitted during the early pandemic (3/1/2020-7/31/2020). Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the effect of IVT delay on discharge to hospice or death, with treatment delay on admission during COVID-19 included as an interaction term. Of the 676 thrombolysed patients, the median age was 70 (IQR 58-81) years, 313 were female (46.3%), and the median NIHSS was 8 (IQR 4-16). Longer treatment delays were observed during COVID-19 (median 46 vs 38 min, p = 0.01) and were associated with higher in-hospital death/hospice discharge irrespective of admission period (OR per hour 1.08, 95% CI 1.01-1.17, p = 0.03). This effect was strengthened after multivariable adjustment (aOR 1.15, 95% CI 1.07-1.24, p < 0.001). There was no interaction of treatment delay on admission during COVID-19 (p  = 0.65). Every one-hour delay in IVT was also associated with 7% lower odds of being discharged to home or acute inpatient rehabilitation facility (aOR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89-0.97, p < 0.001). Treatment delays observed during the COVID-19 pandemic led to greater early mortality and hospice care, with a lower probability of discharge to home/rehabilitation facility. There was no effect modification of treatment delay on admission during the pandemic, indicating that treatment delay at any time contributes similarly to these short-term outcomes.
Adult Aged Brain Ischemia - complications Brain Ischemia - drug therapy Brain Ischemia - epidemiology COVID-19 Female Hospital Mortality Humans Neurology Pandemics Retrospective Studies SARS-CoV-2 Stroke - complications Stroke - drug therapy Stroke - epidemiology Thrombolytic Therapy Treatment Outcome

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