Italy’s Post-COVID-19 Stroke Network: Has It Returned to Pre-Pandemic Standards?
The COVID-19 pandemic strongly transformed the healthcare system in the Lombardy region (Italy), forcing a rapid reorganization of hospital structures. The emergency medical service (EMS) system and emergency departments (EDs) were among the most affected departments. Several studies have shown a ch...
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MDPI AG
2024-07-01
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| Series: | Epidemiologia |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3986/5/3/25 |
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| author | Erika Kacerik Francesca Bottega Aida Andreassi Giuseppe Sechi Alberto Zoli Marco Botteri Carlo Signorelli Nazzareno Fagoni |
| author_facet | Erika Kacerik Francesca Bottega Aida Andreassi Giuseppe Sechi Alberto Zoli Marco Botteri Carlo Signorelli Nazzareno Fagoni |
| author_sort | Erika Kacerik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The COVID-19 pandemic strongly transformed the healthcare system in the Lombardy region (Italy), forcing a rapid reorganization of hospital structures. The emergency medical service (EMS) system and emergency departments (EDs) were among the most affected departments. Several studies have shown a change in the epidemiology of time-dependent pathologies, such as stroke, during the pandemic’s peak. However, there is little scientific evidence regarding the interpandemic phase. The regional register for ED accesses (EUOL) was analyzed, taking into consideration all accesses for stroke and stroke-like syndromes during the years 2019, 2020, and 2021. The analysis shows a significant difference in the average number of diagnoses per month [2092 vs. 1815 vs. 2015, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05)] and an increase in the percentage of transports carried out by EMS vehicles to EDs [17% vs. 25% vs. 22%, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05)]. The length of stay (LOS) increased for both discharged patients (9.0 vs. 10.1 vs. 11.2 h, respectively; <i>p</i> < 0.005) and hospitalized patients (7.5 vs. 9.7 vs. 10.6 h, respectively; <i>p</i> < 0.005). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall number of stroke diagnoses decreased, while the percentage of patients transported to EDs by EMS vehicles increased. Furthermore, an increased processing time in EDs was highlighted. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8271da9f6ad24b3d997913a1849e2e5a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-3986 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Epidemiologia |
| spelling | doaj-art-8271da9f6ad24b3d997913a1849e2e5a2025-08-20T01:55:31ZengMDPI AGEpidemiologia2673-39862024-07-015335336110.3390/epidemiologia5030025Italy’s Post-COVID-19 Stroke Network: Has It Returned to Pre-Pandemic Standards?Erika Kacerik0Francesca Bottega1Aida Andreassi2Giuseppe Sechi3Alberto Zoli4Marco Botteri5Carlo Signorelli6Nazzareno Fagoni7Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milano, ItalyFaculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milano, ItalyAgenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza Headquarters (AREU HQ), Via Campanini 6, 20124 Milano, ItalyAgenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza Headquarters (AREU HQ), Via Campanini 6, 20124 Milano, ItalyAgenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza Headquarters (AREU HQ), Via Campanini 6, 20124 Milano, ItalyAgenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza Headquarters (AREU HQ), Via Campanini 6, 20124 Milano, ItalyFaculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, ItalyThe COVID-19 pandemic strongly transformed the healthcare system in the Lombardy region (Italy), forcing a rapid reorganization of hospital structures. The emergency medical service (EMS) system and emergency departments (EDs) were among the most affected departments. Several studies have shown a change in the epidemiology of time-dependent pathologies, such as stroke, during the pandemic’s peak. However, there is little scientific evidence regarding the interpandemic phase. The regional register for ED accesses (EUOL) was analyzed, taking into consideration all accesses for stroke and stroke-like syndromes during the years 2019, 2020, and 2021. The analysis shows a significant difference in the average number of diagnoses per month [2092 vs. 1815 vs. 2015, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05)] and an increase in the percentage of transports carried out by EMS vehicles to EDs [17% vs. 25% vs. 22%, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05)]. The length of stay (LOS) increased for both discharged patients (9.0 vs. 10.1 vs. 11.2 h, respectively; <i>p</i> < 0.005) and hospitalized patients (7.5 vs. 9.7 vs. 10.6 h, respectively; <i>p</i> < 0.005). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall number of stroke diagnoses decreased, while the percentage of patients transported to EDs by EMS vehicles increased. Furthermore, an increased processing time in EDs was highlighted.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3986/5/3/25emergency departmentCOVID-19strokeLombardy region |
| spellingShingle | Erika Kacerik Francesca Bottega Aida Andreassi Giuseppe Sechi Alberto Zoli Marco Botteri Carlo Signorelli Nazzareno Fagoni Italy’s Post-COVID-19 Stroke Network: Has It Returned to Pre-Pandemic Standards? Epidemiologia emergency department COVID-19 stroke Lombardy region |
| title | Italy’s Post-COVID-19 Stroke Network: Has It Returned to Pre-Pandemic Standards? |
| title_full | Italy’s Post-COVID-19 Stroke Network: Has It Returned to Pre-Pandemic Standards? |
| title_fullStr | Italy’s Post-COVID-19 Stroke Network: Has It Returned to Pre-Pandemic Standards? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Italy’s Post-COVID-19 Stroke Network: Has It Returned to Pre-Pandemic Standards? |
| title_short | Italy’s Post-COVID-19 Stroke Network: Has It Returned to Pre-Pandemic Standards? |
| title_sort | italy s post covid 19 stroke network has it returned to pre pandemic standards |
| topic | emergency department COVID-19 stroke Lombardy region |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3986/5/3/25 |
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