SynthesisBMJ open2023
Association of the COVID-19 pandemic on stroke admissions and treatment globally: a systematic review.
Synthesis in BMJ open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed.
- The stroke transitional care intervention for older adults with stroke and multimorbidity: a multisite pragmatic randomized controlled trial.BMC geriatrics · 2023Trial
- Time trends in stroke incidence and modifiable risk factor prevalence in England (2018-2024): A record linkage population-based study.PLoS medicine · 2026Article
- Posterior Circulation Ischemic Stroke Occurring After ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222 Vaccination Without Evidence of Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia: A Case Report and Focused Narrative Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Significant Increase inGastro hep advances · 2026Article
- Global Burden of Ischemic Heart Disease and Ischemic Stroke, 1990-2023: Spatial Heterogeneity, SDI Inequalities, Pandemic-Era Inflections, and Scenario Forecasts to 2035 Using GBD 2023.Cardiology research and practice · 2026Article
- Occurrence of stroke in children and young adults in Indonesia: a multicenter private hospital study.Clinical and experimental pediatrics · 2025Article
- 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association.Circulation · 2025Review
- The role of atrial fibrillation in vascular cognitive impairment and dementia: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and preventive strategies.GeroScience · 2025Review
- Current and Projected Burden of Ischemic Cerebrovascular Events: Nationwide Estimates From the Dijon Stroke Registry, France.Journal of the American Heart Association · 2025Article
- Global, regional, and national burden of stroke and its risk factors, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.The Lancet. Neurology · 2024Article
- University students in Central Italy: do they follow proper dietary habits?Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene · 2024Article
- Rethinking patient flows in a changing healthcare system: a unified approach.Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene · 2024Article
- Recent Updates on COVID-19 Associated Strokes.Neuroscience insights · 2024Review
- Intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke in COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in neurology · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted insufficiencies and gaps within healthcare systems globally. In most countries, including high-income countries, healthcare facilities were over-run and occupied with too few resources beyond capacity. We carried out a systematic review with a primary aim to identify the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the presentation and treatment of stroke globally in populations≥65 years of age.
designA systematic review was completed. In total, 38 papers were included following full-text screening. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, MEDLINE and Embase. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Eligible studies included observational and real-world evidence publications with a population who have experienced stroke treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exclusion criteria included studies comparing the effect of the COVID-19 infection on stroke treatment and outcomes. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Primary outcome measures extracted were the number of admissions, treatment times and patient outcome. Secondary outcomes were severity on admission, population risk factors and destination on discharge. No meta-analysis was performed.
resultsThis review demonstrated that 84% of studies reported decreased admissions rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, among those admitted, on average, had higher severity of stroke. Additionally, in-hospital stroke treatment pathways were affected by the implementation of COVID-19 protocols, which resulted in increased treatment times in 60% of studies and increased in-hospital mortality in 82% of studies by 100% on average. The prevalence of stroke subtype (ischaemic or haemorrhagic) and primary treatment methods (thrombectomy or thrombolysis) did not vary due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
conclusionsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, many populations hesitated to seek medical attention, decreasing hospital admissions for less severe strokes and increasing hospitalisation of more severe cases and mortality. The effect of the pandemic on society and healthcare systems needs to be addressed to improve stroke treatment pathways and prepare for potential future epidemics. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021248564.
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