Stroke Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

NCT07795021 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: STROCOV19
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 40,000
• Locations: 4 countries
• Sites: 4

Brief Summary

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic led to substantial changes in the allocation of healthcare resources and affected the behavior of patients experiencing stroke symptoms. Previous studies have mainly focused on the so-called "first wave" of the pandemic during the first half of 2020. During this period, the number of hospital admissions of patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) and minor strokes decreased significantly in many hospitals. This reduction was attributed not only to the reallocation of healthcare resources toward the care of patients with COVID-19, but also to patients' concerns about becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2 during a hospital stay. Since then, the situation has changed, as hospitals have become better prepared to treat patients with COVID-19 and the public has become better informed about the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is therefore possible that the pattern of acute stroke care during the subsequent wave of COVID-19, which began in autumn 2020, differed from that observed during the first wave. Aim: The aim of this project is to analyze changes in patterns of acute stroke care across different regions of Europe during the first and subsequent waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify epidemiological determinants associated with changes in stroke care. Methods: We will collect and analyze data on hospital admissions of patients with acute ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) from approximately 40 participating stroke units across Europe for the period from January 1, 2019, to June 30, 2021. The following parameters will be collected: Number of hospital admissions per month and mean length of hospital stay (LOS) per month from January 1, 2019, to June 30, 2021, for the following diagnoses: ischemic stroke hemorrhagic stroke transient ischemic attack Monthly numbers of thrombolysis and thrombectomy procedures during the same period. Epidemiological parameters: population density, population age, geography of the region, urban/rural region properties, traffic connection to the first European hot spot of Covid-19, number of nursing homes Care characteritics: hospital size, stroke unit capacity. Statistical analysis: Changes in the number of stroke admissions and length of hospital stay, as well as rates of thrombolysis and thrombectomy, will be analyzed in relation to regional COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates and other epidemiological parameters, including epidemiological connectivity to the first European COVID-19 hotspot. Expected outcomes: We aim to identify regional patterns of change in acute stroke care during different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine epidemiological factors associated with these changes.

Conditions

Stroke (CVA) or TIA

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• hospital admissions

  hospital admissions for stroke ot TIA

  2,5 years

Interventions

statistical analysis OTHER

we will colect hospital statistics. No other interventions will take place

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

All patients admitted for stroke or TIA to the participating stroke units between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2021.

You may qualify if:

• stroke transient ischemic attack

You may not qualify if:

• traumatic cause of stroke

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Dr. Yaroslav Winter: lead

Study Sites (4)

Departement of Neurology 1st Medical Faculty and General Teaching Hospital

Prague, Czechia

RECRUITING

University Hospital Mainz

Mainz, Germany

RECRUITING

UOC Neurologia, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII

Bergamo, Italy

RECRUITING

University of Barcelona, Comprehensive Stroke Center, Hospital Clinic

Barcelona, Spain

RECRUITING

Related Publications (4)

• Hbid Y, Stanley K, Wolfe CDA, Bhalla A, James M, Douiri A; SSNAP Collaboration. Stroke care in the United Kingdom before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdowns: A retrospective nationwide cohort study. PLoS One. 2025 Sep 2;20(9):e0330903. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0330903. eCollection 2025.

  PMID: 40892745 BACKGROUND

• Dengler J, Abdullah B, Kukolja J, Kuhlen R, Hohenstein S, Dengler NF, Bollmann A, Palm F. Frailty in Stroke Care in Germany Between 2016 and 2022-A Retrospective, Hospital-Based Nationwide Cohort Study. NeuroSci. 2025 Sep 8;6(3):88. doi: 10.3390/neurosci6030088.

  PMID: 40981263 BACKGROUND

• Abe K, Shibata S, Miyawaki A, Kawachi I. Changes in inpatient and outpatient stroke admissions during COVID-19: a difference-in-differences analysis based on claims data from 242 acute care hospitals in Japan. BMJ Public Health. 2025 Sep 29;3(2):e001958. doi: 10.1136/bmjph-2024-001958. eCollection 2025.

  PMID: 41035766 BACKGROUND

• Reddi P, Mehta A, Hardigan T, Shafizadeh M, Kellner CP, Dangayach NS, Fifi JT, Mocco J, Majidi S. Acute Ischemic Stroke and Endovascular Thrombectomy During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Analysis. Neurosurg Pract. 2025 May 23;6(2):e00144. doi: 10.1227/neuprac.0000000000000144. eCollection 2025 Jun.

  PMID: 41163989 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stroke

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Prof. Dr. Yaroslav Winter

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 26, 2026
• First Posted: August 31, 2026
• Study Start: July 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: September 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 30, 2026
• Last Updated: August 31, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ES (1); IT (1); CZ (1); DE (1)