O-23 Stroke hospitalizations before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in the Academic Hospital of Paramaribo: A retrospective study
Author(s):
AV Jarbandhan , V Jairam , RV Ramdas , DRR Lieuw , JR Toelsie , R Bipat
Year of Presentation:
2022
Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created additional barriers for patients seeking help
with emergencies. The aim of this study was to compare
the number of stroke hospitalizations and patient characteristics during COVID-19 in the year 2020 to corresponding
months in the preceding year (2019) in the Academic Hospital of Paramaribo with the only stroke emergency department in Suriname.
Methods: Data from the Medical Registration was used retrospectively to compare all stroke admissions with an ICD 160-169 Code between March 1st–31st August in both 2019 and 2020. Patient demographics were collected. The ANOVA, T-test and Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis.
Results: There was no change in the number of stroke hospitalizations in 2019 (N = 417, 69 ± 8 persons/6 months) compared to those from 2020 (N = 440, 73 ± 8 persons/6 months), p = 0.45. Moreover, there was no difference in the mean age of the stroke patients from 2019 (63 ± 14 years) versus 2020 (64 ± 14 years), (F(1,849) = 1.3, p = 0.24). No difference was seen in the number of admissions based on gender in 2019 (190.; 227.) compared to 2020 (179.; 261.), p = 0.149 or with ethnic groups from 2019 compared to 2020 upon hospitalization (chi-square (2,2) = 2.75, p = 0.25).
Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, stroke related hospitalizations in Suriname did not decrease. However, longitudinal studies with trends are required to make sure that patients reluctant to seek urgent stroke care ultimately receive lifesaving procedures and secondary prevention treatments during pandemic-related closure of facilities.