Patient factors associated with treatment time for stroke before and after the onset of COVID-19

Objectives: Prior to our study, little was known about factors related to time-to-treatment for stroke pre- and post-COVID-19.

Design: This was a retrospective cohort study to evaluate factors associated with delayed door-to-needle time among patients with acute ischemic stroke over two time-periods.

Results: Final sample consisted of 932 charts with mean age of 68.1(±15.6). Significant factors associated with shorter door-to-needle time included ≤ four hours since symptom onset and stroke occurring during post-Covid-19 time-period. Those on anti-coagulants had 72 % higher odds of longer door-to-needle time. As patients got older and stroke symptoms were more severe, less time was spent in door-to-imaging.

Conclusion: Results highlight the importance of early recognition of stroke symptoms and rapid transport to the hospital. Faster response times in post-Covid-19 time-period may be attributable to systematic processes put in place to address pandemic-related challenges. Outcomes may depend on research to identify gaps in stroke treatment.