Status epilepticus during the COVID-19 pandemic in Cologne, Germany: data from a retrospective, multicentre registry.
J Neurol
; 269(11): 5710-5719, 2022 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35802201
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The "coronavirus disease 2019" (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the "severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome-coronavirus 2" (SARS-CoV-2), challenges healthcare systems worldwide and impacts not only COVID-19 patients but also other emergencies. To date, data are scarce on the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacted status epilepticus (SE) and its treatment.OBJECTIVE:
To assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence, management and outcome of SE patients. STUDYDESIGN:
This is a retrospective, multicentre trial, approved by the University of Cologne (21-1443-retro).METHODS:
All SE patients from the urban area of Cologne transmitted to all acute neurological departments in Cologne between 03/2019 and 02/2021 were retrospectively analysed and assessed for patient characteristics, SE characteristics, management, and outcome in the first pandemic year compared to the last pre-pandemic year.RESULTS:
157 pre-pandemic (03/2019-02/2020) and 171 pandemic (from 03/2020 to 02/2021) SE patients were included in the analyses. Acute SARS-CoV-2 infections were rarely detected. Patient characteristics, management, and outcome did not reveal significant groupwise differences. In contrast, regarding prehospital management, a prolonged patient transfer to the hospital and variations in SE aetiologies compared to the last pre-pandemic year were observed with less chronic vascular and more cryptogenic and anoxic SE cases. No infections with SARS-CoV-2 occurred during inpatient stays.CONCLUSIONS:
SARS-CoV-2 infections did not directly affect SE patients, but the transfer of SE patients to emergency departments was delayed. Interestingly, SE aetiology rates shifted, which warrants further exploration. Fears of contracting an in-hospital SARS-CoV-2-infection were unfounded due to consequent containment measures.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Estado Epiléptico
/
COVID-19
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Neurol
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Alemanha