Have COVID-19 Quarantine Measures Triggered The (Incidence Of) Stroke Patients Transported By Ambulance?

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this retrospective study is to determine to what extent the incidence of stroke in individuals whose physical activity was restricted due to the mandatory lockdown during the pandemic has been affected. Material and Method: The study population consists of patients with the ICD codes of stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhages, cerebrovascular situations, cerebrovascular diseases, subdural hemorrhages, hemiplegia and hemiparesis who activated the Kayseri EMS between March 2019 and February 2021. Result: The average timeframe in which the assigned EMS team reached stroke patients before the Covid-19 pandemic was 7.69±5.85. The average transportation time to the patient during Covid-19 was 8.94±6.51. Ambulance transportation times during Covid-19 were longer and statistically significant Conclusion: As a result of this single-center study conducted in Turkey, it is observed that the Covid-19 pandemic did not affect the EMS applications of stroke patients. It is recommended that more comprehensive multicenter studies be conducted.