Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic substantially modified the normal functioning of health systems in the world, promoting, among other problems, delays in the care of patients with acute diseases such as stroke. We analyze the particularities of our population with acute stroke before and during the pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective cohort of adult patients admitted to the British Hospital of Buenos Aires for ischemic stroke between March 20, 2020 and March 20, 2021 and compared with patients admitted in the same time interval during the previous year. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-one patients were included; the 51.2% (n = 62) were male and the average age was 70.4 years (SD 19.9). COVID nasopharyngeal swab was performed in 104 (85.6%) patients, resulting positive in 11 of them (9.1%); in 4 patients, stroke was the first manifestation of the COVID infection. Stroke of undetermined cause was more frequent during the pandemic (P < .05), there was a 21% decrease in the total number of consultations for ischemic stroke and a 4-h delay (IQR 0-2.5) in the window period during pandemic. CONCLUSION: The pandemic has a negative impact on the evaluation of stroke patients. Future changes in outpatient and inpatient care and patient information must continue to avoid delays in care, even as all eyes are focused on patients infected with COVID 19.