HealthDay Reports: More COVID Casualties — Stroke Victims Who Put Off Treatment
A new study find that hospitals in the United States are seeing fewer people for signs of stroke, but it's not likely that the number of strokes has dropped. Instead, it could mean people are going to the hospital less often or waiting a longer time to seek care for stroke symptoms.
More COVID Casualties: Stroke Victims Who Put Off Treatment
THURSDAY, May 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- During the current coronavirus pandemic, U.S. hospitals are seeing fewer people for signs of stroke, a new study finds.
Evaluations for stroke have dropped nearly 40%, said researchers who looked at data from more than 850 hospitals across the country.
"Our stroke team has maintained full capacity to provide emergency stroke treatment at all times, even during the height of the pandemic," said researcher Dr. Akash Kansagra, an assistant professor of radiology at Washington University in St. Louis.
"Nevertheless, we have seen a smaller number of stroke patients coming to the hospital and some patients arriving at the hospital after a considerable delay. It is absolutely heartbreaking to meet a patient who might have recovered from a stroke but, for whatever reason, waited too long to seek treatment," Kansagra said in a university news release.