Stringent public health measures during COVID-19 across ischemic stroke care systems: the potential impact of patient perceptions on health care-seeking behaviors

AbstractDecreases in acute stroke presentations have been reported during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic surges. A recent study by Bojti et al. (GeroScience. 2021;43:2231 –2248) sought to understand the relationship of public health mandates in Hungary as they were implemented with acute ischemic stroke admissions and interventions during two separate COVID-19 waves. We sought to perform a similar analysis of changes in ischemic stroke care at two distinct medical institutions in the USA. Two separate institutions and systems of ischemic stroke care were evaluated through a regional comprehensive stroke center telestroke service and a Veterans Affairs (VA) inpatient stroke and neurorehabilitation service. Telestroke consultations in a single system in Chicago , IL, were significantly decreased during the first COVID-19 wave during severely restricted public health mandates (z-score  <   − 2), and were less depressed during a subsequent wave with less severe restrictions (z-score approaching  − 1), which resembles findings in Hungary as reported by Bojti et al. In contrast, inpatient admissions during the first and second COVID-19 waves to a VA stroke and neurorehabilitation service in Oklahoma City remained unchanged. The Chicago and Hungary patterns of stroke presentations sugge st that public perceptions, as informed by regional health mandates, might influence healthcare-seeking behavior. However, the VA experience suggests that speci...
Source: AGE - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research