Quality of Care and Outcomes for Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Prevalence and impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients with acute ischaemic stroke: a nationwide register-based cohort study in Denmark

“…This is in line with previous results from a study on data from the DSR showing that the overall quality of care during the pandemic remained high 12. Similar studies from other countries, including the USA and UK, also found that quality in stroke care was maintained and for some domains even improved 26 27. This may, at least partly, be explained by lower admission rates.…”

“… 12 Similar studies from other countries, including the USA and UK, also found that quality in stroke care was maintained and for some domains even improved. 26 27 This may, at least partly, be explained by lower admission rates. However, in Denmark, stroke admission rates remained unchanged during the pandemic.…”

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood pressure control after a stroke or transient ischemic attack among patients at VA medical centers

“…There were also variables indicating pass rates for six other processes of care measures (brain imaging, carotid artery imaging, anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation, antithrombotics, receipt of high or moderate potency statins, and neurology consultation) for the same patients. 24 The two pass rates were percentage of the 6 measures passed and a binary variable for passing all of measures vs. failing one or more. The three primary outcomes for the study were: the presence of one or more outpatient visits in the 90-days post-discharge, presence of blood pressure measurements in the 90-days post-discharge, and mean SBP at goal (<140 mmHg) in the 90 days post-discharge.…”

“…Even with these changes in care delivery stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall quality of inpatient stroke and TIA care did not change in the VA system; a composite measure of seven guideline concordant care processes did not decline significantly when comparing the first nine months of the pandemic (2020) to same nine months a year before (2019). 24 However, one of these seven processes of care, post-discharge blood pressure control, appeared to suffer during the pandemic. 24 Specifically, the proportion of VA patients with blood pressure control (systolic blood pressure <140 mmHg) in the 90-days post-discharge was significantly lower during the pandemic than before.…”

“… 24 However, one of these seven processes of care, post-discharge blood pressure control, appeared to suffer during the pandemic. 24 Specifically, the proportion of VA patients with blood pressure control (systolic blood pressure <140 mmHg) in the 90-days post-discharge was significantly lower during the pandemic than before.…”