Differences of corruption types in selected Western and central-eastern health systems during the COVID-19 pandemic: a rapid review.

Objectives: To identify, describe, and classify the cases of health corruption present in selected Western [the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (UK)] and Central-Eastern European (Poland and Slovakia) countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A rapid review of the literature was conducted, evaluating data from 11 March 2020 to 15 April 2021. Information sources included MEDLINE via WoS, IBSS via ProQuest, Scopus, and gray literature. Results: Thirteen cases were identified across the four countries. The primary type of health corruption in Western European countries was procurement corruption, while misuse of (high) level positions was the most prevalent in Central-Eastern European countries. Actors from central governments were most involved in cases. The rule of law and anti-corruption watchdogs reported most cases in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, while the media reported cases in Poland and Slovakia. Conclusion: The differences in types of corruption in WE and CEE countries emphasize the need to contextualize the approach to tackle corruption. Thus, further research in preventing and tackling corruption is a vital and necessary undertaking despite the inherent of conducting health corruption research.

Effectiveness and safety of mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke in Latin American countries: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use, effectiveness, and safety outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in Latin American countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Studies reporting MT outcomes for AIS in Latin America were identified in CINAHL, MEDLINE, Web of Science, SciELO, EMBASE, and LILACS databases. Synthesis was conducted according to effectiveness (recanalization rates) and safety measures (mortality and functional independence at 90 days). RESULTS: Seventeen studies were included, mainly from public and university hospitals. MT utilization varied from 2.6% to 50.1%, while successful recanalization ranged from 63% to 95%. Functional independence 90 days after stroke (a modified Rankin scale score of 0 to 2) was achieved in less than 40% across most studies. Mortality rates were below 30%; studies with posterior circulation strokes reported higher mortality rates. The randomized trial reported better health outcomes for functional independence among patients in the MT group (OR 2.28; 95% CI, 1.41 - 3.69), favoring MT over standard care. CONCLUSIONS: The included studies had great methodological heterogeneity due to differences in study design, the MT time window, and stroke location. The only randomized trial showed improved functional independence and lower mortality rates with MT than with standard care. The rest of the studies reported similar findings to available literature. Efforts to improve stroke care are reflected in improved patient outcomes in the region. Future studies should consider standard time window criteria and reduce the risk of bias by including representative samples and comparison groups.

Contribution of Onset-to-Alarm Time to Prehospital Delay in Patients with Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) improves the clinical outcome when administered properly; however, the most important factor to receive tPA is time. The main reason for late hospital arrival is a considerable delay in onset-to-alarm time (OAT), comprising more than 50% of the onset-to-door time. AIMS: To identify the factors associated with a delay in OAT and evaluate its contribution to onset-to-door time in ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: Prospective cohort of stroke patients admitted to the UANL University Hospital. OAT was defined as the time from identification of stroke symptoms to the decision to seek medical attention. RESULTS: A total of 189 patients were included. Mean age was 61 ± 13 years, 62% were men. One-hundred and one patients had a short OAT, but only 20.9% arrived during the first 3 hours after stroke onset. Being employed (P = 0032; odds ratio [OR] 2.784, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.091-7.104), attributing symptoms to stroke (P = 0016; OR 3.348, 95% CI 1.254-8.936), and perceiving stroke symptoms as severe (P = 0031;OR 2.428, 95% CI 1.083-5.445) were associated with a shorter OAT. CONCLUSIONS: OAT consumes a considerable amount of the onset-to-door time. It is necessary to increase stroke knowledge and emphasize the severity of stroke, regardless of the severity of its clinical manifestations to reduce the prehospital delay, especially in countries with limited access to treatment with an extended time frame.

[Impacto en el desenlace funcional en pacientes con ictus: experiencia de una unidad de cuidados neurovasculares].

Background and objective: Neurovascular care units (NCU) have a positive impact on the functional prognosis of stroke patients. The effectiveness of NCUs in Mexico has not been evaluated. Our objective was to determine the impact of an NCU in a third-level academic hospital in northeastern of Mexico. Method: We performed a prospective observational, analytic cohort study. The population was divided into two periods: the first one consisted of those patients admitted before the implementation of the NCU (2008-2010), and the second period consisted of patients admitted after the implementation of the UCN (2010-2014). Functional status was assessed with the modified Rankin scale at discharge and 3 months. Results and conclusions: 598 patients were included (period 1: 246; period 2: 352). Patients in period 2 had a higher deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis (odds ratio [OR]: 3.235; 95 % confidence interval [95 % CI]: 2.18-4.80; p = 0.01), a shorter hospital stay (OR: 0.42; 95 % CI: 0.29-0.62; p = 0.01) and less severe disability (Rankin ≥ 3) at 3 months of follow-up (OR: 0.42; 95 % CI: 0.29-0.62; p = 0.01). The implementation of an NCU in a third-level academic hospital improved the functional outcome at 3 months and decreased the days of in-hospital stay of patients with stroke.

Antecedentes y objetivo: Las unidades de cuidados neurovasculares (UCN) impactan favorablemente en el pronóstico funcional del paciente con ictus en comparación con las salas de internamiento general. La efectividad de las UCN en México no ha sido evaluada. Nuestro objetivo fue determinar el impacto que tiene una UCN en un hospital académico de tercer nivel del noreste de México. Método: Estudio de cohorte prospectivo, observacional y analítico. La población fue dividida en dos periodos: el primero consistió en aquellos pacientes ingresados antes de la implementación de la UCN (2008-2010), y el segundo consistió en pacientes ingresados posterior a la implementación de la UCN (2010-2014). Se evaluó el estado funcional al egreso y a los 3 meses. Resultados y conclusiones: Se incluyeron 598 pacientes (periodo 1: 246; periodo 2: 352). En el periodo 2 se incrementó la profilaxis de trombosis venosa profunda (razón de momios [RM]: 3.235; intervalo de confianza del 95 % [IC 95 %]: 2.18-4.80; p = 0.01) y se redujeron la estancia hospitalaria (RM: 0.42; IC 95 %: 0.29-0.62; p = 0.01) y la discapacidad funcional grave (Rankin ≥ 3) a los 3 meses de seguimiento (RM: 0.42; IC 95 %: 0.29-0.62; p = 0.01). La implementación de una UCN mejoró el desenlace funcional a 3 meses y disminuyó los días de estancia intrahospitalaria de pacientes con ictus.

Impaired Cerebral Vasomotor Reactivity in Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that cerebral vascularity may be impaired in Alzheimer's disease. Cerebral vasomotor reactivity could be an important biomarker for this pathology. AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations in cerebral vascular motor reactivity in Alzheimer's disease subjects and to associate these changes with their cognitive scores. METHODS: We recruited subjects with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and healthy controls. Demographic, clinical, imaging, and cognitive test were obtained. Then all participants performed a cerebral vascular motor reactivity test with 7% CO2 and cerebral blood flow velocities (CBFV) were recorded with transcranial doppler ultrasound before and after the test. RESULTS: We recruited 45 subjects, 26 (21 female) Alzheimer's disease participants and 19 (15 female) healthy controls. There were no differences in baseline cerebral blood flow velocities between the groups. After the cerebral vasomotor reactivity test, absolute mean difference in mean CBFV (ΔCBFV-m) was 8.70±4.14 versus 4.81±6.96 (p<0.01), respectively. Calculated percentage of change (%CVMR) was lower in the AD group 7.45±18.25 versus 23.29±17.48, and there was a positive but weak correlation with mini-mental scores (ρ=0.337, p=0.023). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, Alzheimer's disease subjects showed significant changes in all absolute cerebral blood flow velocities after the cerebral vasomotor reactivity test with CO2, but only diastolic phase responses were statistically significant. There was a positive but weak correlation between cerebral vasomotor reactivity and cognitive scores. Further studies are needed to investigate these effects in larger Latin-American samples.

Difference in Stroke Knowledge between Rural and Urban Communities in a Developing Country after Community-Based Stroke Educational Campaigns: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of disability and death in Mexico. Poor ability to identify signs and symptoms of ischemic stroke leads to longer hospital arrival times and precludes prompt treatment. The knowledge of stroke risk factors and warning signs in rural population is scarce. Since 2010, Stroke Education Campaigns are performed with a community-based approach. The aim of this study was to assess and compare stroke knowledge in rural and urban communities. METHODS: During World Stroke Campaign, a standardized questionnaire to assess knowledge of stroke risk factors and warning signs was applied in urban and non-urban communities of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. RESULTS: A total of 4,144 surveys were collected. Mean age was 44.2 ± 16.1 and 75.9% were women. People from rural and semi-urban areas mentioned > 3 risk factors (p < 0.001) and warning signs (p < 0.001) compared to the urban area. After logistic regression analysis, having received previous information about stroke remained significant for the knowledge of > 3 stroke risk factors and warning signs (p < 0.001; 95% CI 1.997-2.727; p < 0.001; 95% CI 1.880-3.787) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Rural and semi-urban regions performed better than the urban population. Receiving stroke information is a determinant factor for stroke knowledge. Stroke Educational Campaigns are a cost-effective method for raising stroke awareness, thus reducing stroke burden.