O-31 The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on stroke hospitalizations in the Academic Hospital of Paramaribo with data from 2018 to 2021: are there reasons for concern?
Author(s):
A Mahabier, A Jarbandhan
Year of Presentation:
2024
Objective: This study aimed to compare the number of stroke hospitalizations during COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) to comparable data from preceding years before COVID (2018-2019) admitted to the Academic Hospital of Paramaribo (AZP). The findings from this study may show which groups are more vulnerable and were disproportionately affected and may aid in the development of tailored stroke health care.
Methods: Our database consisted of the number of new stroke hospitalizations and was restricted to the period of 1st Januari 2018 – 31st December 2019 (pre-COVID period) and comparable months in 2020 to 2021 (during COVID). Moreover, sociodemographic data (age, sex, ethnic and geographic background) was collected. The T-test (numerical data) and Chi-square test (categorical data) were used for statistical analysis.
Results: The number of stroke hospitalizations decreased (3%) during the pandemic (t(3705)=-104.62, p<0.00). The mean age of patients admitted pre-COVID (62.9 ± 14.7 years) was similar to those admitted during COVID (63.9 ± 14.4 years), (t(3705)=-2.26, p=0.23). Moreover, there were consistently more men admitted than women in AZP (17% before COVID versus 8% during COVID) with an increase of women admitted during COVID ((2.6%), (x2 (1,1)=7.33, p<0.00). More Asians were admitted (49.7%) compared to African (34.7%) and Other (15.6%) ethnic groups during COVID (x2 (2,2)=9.16, p=0.01). The people admitted to the hospital came from similar districts when the pre-COVID period was compared to the COVID period (x2 (3,3)=5.85, p=0.11).
Conclusion: According to our findings both men and women and people with an Asian background were vulnerable regarding stroke hospitalization during COVID. These groups require personalized interventions.