Abstract Details

Title Snowball effect of COVID- 19 : Stroke Care Underutilization

Topic Health Care Disparities

Presentation(s) P1 - Poster Session 1 (9:00 AM-5:00 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 216

Objective This study aims to investigate the utilization of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) services during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Background Based on early observations among healthcare utilization on stroke and other healthcare services, we hypothesized that there would be a persistent significant decline in AIS patients presenting to hospitals as the pandemic has progressed for over a year.

Design/Methods TriNetX, a large research network, is used to collect real-time electronic medical data. Data on utilization of acute ischemic stroke service was collected for the years 2018, 2019, and 2020 for variables including overall stroke volume and the number of patients that received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and mechanical thrombectomy (MT).

Results We found a 13.2–15.4% decrease in total number of AIS patients in 2020 (n 77231) compared with the years 2018 and 2019 (n 88948 and 91270 respectively, p <0.001). In the year 2020 Stroke volume was significantly lower in Q4 comparing to Q1 (Q1 vs Q4, p <0.01). The proportion of patients receiving tPA in 2020 was significantly lower compared to prior years (5.4% in 2020, 6.4% in 2018, 6.0% in 2019, p <0.01), however, the proportion of patients receiving MT was significantly higher in 2020 than in 2018(0.024 vs 0.022, p <0.01).

Conclusions Despite significant alteration in practices to optimize healthcare delivery and mitigate the collateral impact of the pandemic on care for other conditions, a persistent decline in AIS volumes remains. Delayed presentation, fear-of-contagion, reallocation, and poor availability of health care resources are potential contributors. Prospective evaluation and further investigation for these trends is needed.

Authors/Disclosures
Abhilash Thatikala, MD, MBBS, DM (UAMS) PRESENTER	Dr. Thatikala has nothing to disclose.
Hafsa Bareen Syeda, MBBS (UAMS)	Dr. Syeda has nothing to disclose.
Shubham Biyani, MBBS	Dr. Biyani has nothing to disclose.
Narenraj Arulprakash, MD (Baptist Health)	Dr. Arulprakash has nothing to disclose.
Khushboo Verma, MBBS (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences)	Dr. Verma has nothing to disclose.
Sen Sheng, MD	Dr. Sheng has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
Vishank A. Shah, MD (Johns Hopkins University)	Dr. Shah has nothing to disclose.
Sisira Yadala, MD, FAAN	Dr. Yadala has nothing to disclose.
Sanjeeva R. Onteddu, MD, FAAN (UAMS)	Dr. Onteddu has nothing to disclose.
Krishna Nalleballe, MD, FAAN	Dr. Nalleballe has nothing to disclose.

��ɫ��

��ɫ��