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AAN 2021 | Acute stroke care during the COVID-19 pandemic

Mitchell Elkind, MD, MS, FAAN, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute stroke care. Prof. Elkind notes that significant decreases in acute stroke presentation occurred during the peaks of the pandemic, with falls of up to 30-40% in some US cities. Of those that did present to the hospital, there was a higher proportion of severe strokes, suggesting individuals with minor symptoms were less likely to seek treatment. As well as the concerns that patients did not receive the necessary emergency care, the pandemic also impacted primary care needed for stroke prevention. This interview took place during the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2021 Annual Meeting.