COVID-19 lockdown impact on quality of treatment and outcomes of STEMI and stroke patients in a large tertiary medical center: an observational study.
Int J Qual Health Care
; 34(4)2022 Oct 11.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36103366
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected health-care systems worldwide, leading to fewer admissions and raising concerns about the quality of care. The objective of this study was to investigate the early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on quality of care among stroke and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, focusing on clinical outcomes and direct treatment costs.METHOD:
This retrospective, observational study was based on the 10-week period that included the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel (15 February 2020-30 April 2020). Emergency department admissions for stroke and STEMI were compared with parallel periods in 2017-2019, focusing on demographics, risk and severity scores, and the effect of clinical outcomes on hospitalization costs.RESULTS:
The 634 stroke and 186 STEMI cases comprised 16% and 19% fewer admissions, respectively, compared to 2019. No significant changes were detected in demographics, most disease management parameters, readmission and mortality outcomes. The mean door-to-balloon time increased insignificantly by 33%, lowering the health quality indicator (HQI) for treatment in <90 min from 94.7% in 2017-2019 to 83% in 2020 (P = 0.022). Among suspected stroke patients, 97.2% underwent imaging, with 28% longer median time from admission (P = 0.05). Consequently, only 24.3% met the HQI of imaging in <29 min, compared to 45.5% in 2017-2019 (P < 0.01). Increased length of stay and more intensive care unit admissions were the leading causes of 6.5% increased mean cost of STEMI patients' initial hospitalization, which totaled $29 300 in the COVID-19 period (P = 0.008).CONCLUSION:
The initial pandemic period caused a decline in HQIs linked to diagnostic and treatment protocols, without changes in outcomes, but with increased hospitalization costs. Medical information and awareness of life-threatening conditions among patients and caregivers should be increased to enable proper diagnosis and management.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Accidente Cerebrovascular
/
Intervención Coronaria Percutánea
/
Infarto del Miocardio con Elevación del ST
/
COVID-19
Tipo de estudio:
Guideline
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int J Qual Health Care
Asunto de la revista:
SERVICOS DE SAUDE
Año:
2022
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Israel
Pais de publicación:
ENGLAND
/
ESCOCIA
/
GB
/
GREAT BRITAIN
/
INGLATERRA
/
REINO UNIDO
/
SCOTLAND
/
UK
/
UNITED KINGDOM