Abstract WP46: Patterns Of Emergency Medical Transport For Suspected Acute Stroke, Acute Myocardial Infarction, And Other Diagnoses During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Analysis Of A Large Hospital-based Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency

Stroke, Volume 53, Issue Suppl_1, Page AWP46-AWP46, February 1, 2022. Introduction:During the initial peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many centers globally reported a significant decrease in volumes of emergencies including acute stroke (AS) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). While the reason for this remains unknown, pandemic-driven anxiety among patients may have resulted in unwarranted refusals to transport when deemed necessary by EMS (Emergency Medical Services) providers. We sought to study the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the patterns of Emergency Medical transport (EMTr) and patient refusals to transport when serious medical conditions were suspected by EMS personnel.Methods:In this retrospective, observational study of Grady Health System’s EMS, we compared the rates of EMTr and refusals for adult patients with suspected diagnoses of AS, AMI, and other medical conditions in the first year of the pandemic (Y1, Mar 2020-Feb 2021) with the corresponding period in the year prior (Y0). We also compared the temporal trends for these variables across the different pandemic waves (1st, Mar-May 2020; 2nd, Jun-Aug 2020; 3rd, Sep 2020-Feb 2021) with the corresponding periods in the year before.Results:Grady EMS responded to 207,888 calls in Y1 compared to 201,968 in Y0. The overall rate of refusals for all diagnoses was 15.5% in Y1 vs 14.1% in Y0, that for AS was 2.25% in Y1 vs 1.77% in Y0 and 7.5% in Y1 vs 5.67% in Y0 for AMI (Figure).Conclusion:There were more refusals in the first two waves of the pandemic. While refusals were higher for AS and AMI, this was not statistically significant. Our study provides valuable insight into the behavioral patterns of patients seeking emergency care during the pandemic and emphasizes a need for public education and more research.

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Febbraio 2022

Abstract TMP23: Impact Of Covid-19 On Number Of Acute Stroke Patients In Japan: A Nationwide Survey In Primary Stroke Centers

Stroke, Volume 53, Issue Suppl_1, Page ATMP23-ATMP23, February 1, 2022. Background and Purpose:We sought to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on number of acute stroke patients admitted to Japanese primary stroke centers (PSCs).Methods:The Japan Stroke Society and the MHLW registry of mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke conducted a national annual survey of hospitalization volumes for acute ischemic stroke, intracranial cerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage in PSCs. Number of acute stroke patients was defined as sum of three stroke subtypes admitted within 7 days after the onset. Monthly acute stroke volumes were compared between 2019 and 2020, among COVID-19 waves, and regional infectious rates.Results:The stroke volume data was completed in 530 PSCs. The annual acute stroke volume was declined 2.5% from 179,893 in 2019 to 174,385 in 2020. Number of acute stoke patients was declined during COVID-19 expanding periods (1stwave, Mar-May; 2ndwave Jul-Aug; 3rdwave Nov-Dec), whereas it was increased in the other months. The mean decline rate of stroke volumes from 2019 to 2020 was greater in 125 PSCs located in prefectures with high estimated SARS-CoV 2 infected rate (more than 2,300 per million people) than in 405 PSCs of the other regions (-4.6±15.4% vs -0.1±20.0%, P=0.008), especially during COVID-19 expanding periods (-8.2±17.9% vs -3.1±21.3%, P=0.009).Conclusions:Acute stroke volumes were declined in 2020 from 2019 in Japanese PSCs, especially during COVID-19 expanding periods and in highly infected regions. The overwhelmed health care system and infection control practices may have associated with decline of number of acute stroke patients during COVID-19 pandemic.

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Febbraio 2022

Abstract TP24: Indicators Of High Morbidity And Poor Functional Outcome In Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients With Concurrent Covid-19

Stroke, Volume 53, Issue Suppl_1, Page ATP24-ATP24, February 1, 2022. Objectives:Evidence suggests an association of increased cerebrovascular accidents frequency in patients diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19. Coagulopathy resulting from the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection is suspected. This study aims at evaluating thrombotic markers in relation to stroke severity and functional outcomes in a patient cohort of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with concurrent COVID-19.Methods:We performed a retrospective observational cohort study of 28 patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via polymerase chain reaction and concomitant AIS confirmed by brain imaging. We analyzed data regarding initial stroke presentation, markers of coagulopathy, and 90-day functional outcomes.Results:The patient cohort displayed high rate of comorbidities with 78.6% having at least 1 vascular risk factor. NIHSS had a median of 16 at initial presentation and median stroke volume of 52 mL. Median NIHSS at discharge or prior to death was 19, and median 90-day mRS was 4. Highest fibrinogen level recorded showed a median of 759.54 mg/dL (IQR 653.75-940.75), D-dimer and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) showed a median highest recorded value 24,106 ng/mL (IQR 6105.00-80165.00) and 442 ng/mL (IQR 277.00-545.50), respectively. LDH (p=0.0008), D-dimer (p=0.001), and maximum fibrinogen levels (p=0.049) near the time of stroke significantly predicted final NIHSS and functional outcome 90-days after discharge.Conclusions:Adult patients with acute ischemic stroke and concurrent COVID-19 disease exhibited abnormally high markers of coagulopathy, and LDH, D-Dimer, and fibrinogen levels were predictors of morbidity and neurological disability at 90-days in this patient population. Further research is necessary to establish a definitive pattern and assess the ability to use these markers as prognostic elements of 90-day functional outcome.

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Febbraio 2022

Abstract TMP22: Genetic Predisposition To Cardiovascular Disease Is Associated With Higher Risk Of Stroke In Persons With COVID-19

Stroke, Volume 53, Issue Suppl_1, Page ATMP22-ATMP22, February 1, 2022. Background and Purpose:Stroke is a serious complication of COVID-19. However, the risk factors for this complication are poorly understood. We hypothesize that genetic predisposition to cardio- and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) leads to an increased risk of stroke in patients with COVID-19 infection.Methods:We evaluated data from a nested cohort study conducted within the UK Biobank focused on persons with documented COVID-19. Incident strokes (ischemic and hemorrhagic) were identified by combining inpatient data (including critical care and discharge diagnostic codes) and primary care data, the latter entered by providers within 30 days of a positive COVID-19 test. Genetic predisposition to CVD was evaluated through a polygenic risk score that integrated genomic information on 2,176 independent genetic risk variants for stroke, coronary artery disease and cardiometabolic risk factors. This score was divided into low (0-20thpercentile), intermediate (20th-80thpercentile), and high (80th-100thpercentile) genetic risk.Results:A total of 11,882 study participants (mean age 65.8, SD [8.6], female sex 6,306 [53.1%]) with documented COVID-19 infection were included in this study, including 99 (0.8%) persons that sustained a stroke during the infection. Compared to persons with low genetic predisposition to CVD, those with intermediate and high genetic risk had 35% (OR 1.35, 95%CI 1.14-1.55) and 2.4-fold (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.71-3.05) higher risk of stroke (test for trend p=0.004). Sub-scoring analyses evaluating one polygenic risk score per CVD trait of interest indicated that genetic predisposition to hypertension (p=0.017) and smoking (p=0.03) were the most important genetic risk factors.Conclusions:Genetic predisposition to CVD is associated with a higher risk of stroke in persons with acute COVID-19 infection. Genetic risk factors for hypertension and smoking appear to mediate a significant portion of this association. Genetic information should be considered in the multiple ongoing efforts to create risk-stratification strategies to identify COVID-19 patients at high risk of stroke.

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Febbraio 2022

Abstract TMP56: Quality Of Ischemic Stroke Care Before And After The Covid-19 Pandemic

Stroke, Volume 53, Issue Suppl_1, Page ATMP56-ATMP56, February 1, 2022. Objective:To compare metrics of acute care for ischemic stroke (IS) before and after the first cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed and major changes were made to the workflow.Methods:Data were prospectively collected as part of the institutional Stroke Database project. Patients with IS > 18 years admitted from January 2019 until March 2020 were considered to be part of the group treated in the “pre-COVID” era and those admitted from April 2020 until December 2020, in the “post-COVID” era. The primary outcome was the door-to-needle time in subjects treated with intravenous thrombolysis. Secondary outcomes were: rate of thrombolysis, rates of complications (pneumonia, urinary tract infection, deep venous thrombosis or pressure injury) and death during hospital admission. Patients’ characteristics, primary and secondary outcomes were compared with unpaired t-tests, Mann-Whitney or chi-square tests, according to the nature and distribution of the data.Results:Data from 932 patients with IS in the pre-COVID and 520, in the post-COVID group were prospectively collected. There were no significant differences in age (pre-COVID, 64.2±14.7 years; post-COVID, 63.3±15 years; p=0.296), gender (pre-COVID, 55.5% male; post-COVID, 55% male; p=0.862) or NIHSS scores (pre-COVID, median 5, range 0-38; post-COVID, median 6, range 0-36; p=0.346). Thrombolysis rates were 19.6% pre-COVID and15.7% post-COVID. All eligible subjects received thrombolysis. The increase in door-to-needle time in subjects treated with thrombolysis (pre-COVID, median 36 minutes; post-COVID, median 39 minutes) was statistically significant (p=0.048). Rates of complications in all ISs during admission increased significantly from 8.3% (pre-COVID) to 20.2% (post-COVID) (p

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Febbraio 2022

Abstract TP22: Coagulation Markers And Stroke Severity In Covid-19 Associated Acute Ischemic Stroke

Stroke, Volume 53, Issue Suppl_1, Page ATP22-ATP22, February 1, 2022. Background:COVID-19 is thought to induce a pro-thrombotic state, which might increase stroke risk. The purpose of this project is to assess stroke severity, type and coagulation markers such as D-dimer, fibrinogen, and CRP in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and COVID-19, compared to a control group of AIS without COVID-19.Methods:We captured discharge diagnosis of all patients at our medical center with AIS and COVID based on their discharge ICD-10 coding between June 2020 and May 2021; and identified AIS without COVID matched for age, sex, race, and ethnicity. Group 1 was AIS with COVID-19, Group 2 matched (3:1) AIS without COVID-19. We compared baseline demographics, NIHSS, D-dimer, fibrinogen, CRP, presence of large vessel occlusion (LVO) in COVID-19 AIS vs non-COVID-19 AIS. We used a T test to compare parametric and Mann Whitney U for non-parametric values.Results:In total 23 (of 397 total AIS) patients were in Group 1; 69 in Group 2. D-dimer levels (mean) were 3237.3 in Group 1, and 2706.8 in Group 2 (NS), Fibrinogen 464.4 and 379.8 (NS), CRP 7.9 and 9.4 (NS). Median NIHSS was 21 versus 5 (p=0.003). LVO was present in 17 patients in Group 1 (73%) and 23 (33%) in Group 2 (NS). In total, only 5.8% (23 of 397) of all AIS in our data had Covid-19 infection.Conclusion:COVID in stroke was an infrequent finding in our sample (5.8%). Patients with COVID and stroke had higher initial stroke severity, but did not differ in coagulation values. Weather coagulation markers can help distinguish patients with COVID related stroke will require subsequent studies. We need additional data before treatment recommendations specific to stroke in COVID can be made.

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Febbraio 2022

Abstract TP23: Characteristics Of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke And Covid-19 Who Required Intensive Care Unit Admission Versus Ward-only: The Mississippi Academic Center Experience

Stroke, Volume 53, Issue Suppl_1, Page ATP23-ATP23, February 1, 2022. Background:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral disease that has primarily been known to cause respiratory symptoms; however, there has also been an association of COVID-19 with neurological symptoms, including acute ischemic stroke (AIS). There is a lack of data on the characteristics of AIS patients with COVID-19 from the stroke belt. We aim to describe the characteristics of patients with COVID-19 and AIS and compare the characteristics of those who required intensive care unit (ICU) admission versus ward-only.Methods:Single center, retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted in a tertiary academic center from March 1-December 31, 2020. The institutional COVID database was utilized for data collection. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected. Primary outcome measure was mortality. Secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay (LOS) and discharge disposition.Results:Both COVID-19 and AIS were found in 2.4% (n=75) of patients out of 3,031 patients with COVID-19, during the study period. These patients were male (45, 60%), African American (43, 57%), 65±12 years old, with hypertension (69, 92%) and Diabetes Mellitus type 2 (50, 67%). We noted a 20% (n=15) overall in-patient mortality rate among patients with both COVID-19 and AIS. Among these patients, 23% (n=17) required ICU admission. Demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics were comparable among ICU versus ward-only patients except for higher LDH (476.12±189.70 vs 276.17±88.35 U/L, p==0.0003); and lower relative lymphocytic count (3.57±3.56 vs 8.93±7.83 103cells/μL, p=0.0160) among those admitted into the ICU. Mortality (13, 68% vs 6, 32%, p

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Febbraio 2022

Abstract TP26: Changes In Health-seeking Behavior Of Stroke Patients During Three Covid-19 Outbreaks: Data From The Korean Stroke Registry

Stroke, Volume 53, Issue Suppl_1, Page ATP26-ATP26, February 1, 2022. Introduction:The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the medical use of stroke patients. This study evaluated the health-seeking behavior of stroke patients and changes in stroke care services at the time of three domestic COVID-19 outbreaks in Korea using the Korean Stroke Registry (KSR) data.Methods:We reviewed data from patients with acute stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) from Jan 2019 to May 2021. There were three domestic COVID-19 outbreaks (1st: Feb to Mar 2020, 2nd Aug to Sep 2020, 3rd Nov 2020 to Jan 2021). Outcomes included patient characteristics, times from stroke onset to hospital arrival, and in-hospital stroke pathways.Results:The study included 34,271 patients who visited hospitals that contribute to the KSR. In the first outbreak, in Daegu city (the main epicenter), the number of patients decreased by two-thirds compared to the pre-COVID period, and the number of TIA patients was particularly decreased (9.97% to 2.91%). Unlike other regions, the median onset-to-door time increased significantly in the epicenter (361 min vs. 526.5 min, p=0.016), and longer times were common for patients with mild symptoms and who were in their 60s or 70s. The median onset-to-door time increased in the epicenter during the second outbreak, but it was not statistically significant. At the third outbreak, the median onset-to-door time was reduced even in the epicenter compared to the previous one. The number of patients decreased with each outbreak compared to the previous one, but the decrease gradually became smaller.Conclusions:Korean stroke patients in a COVID-19 outbreak region showed clear changes in health-seeking behaviors and showed a pattern of adaptation to the COVID-19 environment. There is a need for continued attention to an appropriate triage system and public education on the importance of early treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Febbraio 2022