Serious COVID-19 Patients Requiring Brain Imaging Face Higher Risk of Death, Finds Study
|
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 24 Dec 2020 |
|
Illustration
Hospitalized COVID-19 patients with neurological problems serious enough to warrant brain imaging have a higher risk of dying, according to a new study.
These findings by researchers at Montefiore Health System (New York City, NY, USA) and Albert Einstein College of Medicine (New York City, NY, USA) have the potential to identify and focus treatment efforts on individuals most at risk and could decrease COVID-19 deaths.
The study looked at data from 4,711 COVID-19 patients who were admitted to Montefiore during the six-week period between March 1, 2020 and April 16, 2020. Of those patients, 581 (12%) had neurological problems serious enough to warrant brain imaging. These individuals were compared with 1,743 non-neurological COVID-19 patients of similar age and disease severity who were admitted during the same period. Among people who underwent brain imaging, 55 were diagnosed with stroke and 258 people exhibited confusion or altered thinking ability. Individuals with stroke were twice as likely to die (49% mortality) compared with their matched controls (24% mortality) - a statistically significant difference. People with confusion had a 40% mortality rate compared with 33% for their matched controls - also statistically significant. More than half the stroke patients in the study did not have hypertension or other underlying risk factors for stroke.
“This study is the first to show that the presence of neurological symptoms, particularly stroke and confused or altered thinking, may indicate a more serious course of illness, even when pulmonary problems aren’t severe,” said David Altschul, M.D., chief of the division of neurovascular surgery at Einstein and Montefiore, and associate professor in the Leo M. Davidoff Department of Neurological Surgery and of radiology at Einstein. “Hospitals can use this knowledge to prioritize treatment and, hopefully, save more lives during this pandemic.”
Related Links:
Montefiore Health System
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
These findings by researchers at Montefiore Health System (New York City, NY, USA) and Albert Einstein College of Medicine (New York City, NY, USA) have the potential to identify and focus treatment efforts on individuals most at risk and could decrease COVID-19 deaths.
The study looked at data from 4,711 COVID-19 patients who were admitted to Montefiore during the six-week period between March 1, 2020 and April 16, 2020. Of those patients, 581 (12%) had neurological problems serious enough to warrant brain imaging. These individuals were compared with 1,743 non-neurological COVID-19 patients of similar age and disease severity who were admitted during the same period. Among people who underwent brain imaging, 55 were diagnosed with stroke and 258 people exhibited confusion or altered thinking ability. Individuals with stroke were twice as likely to die (49% mortality) compared with their matched controls (24% mortality) - a statistically significant difference. People with confusion had a 40% mortality rate compared with 33% for their matched controls - also statistically significant. More than half the stroke patients in the study did not have hypertension or other underlying risk factors for stroke.
“This study is the first to show that the presence of neurological symptoms, particularly stroke and confused or altered thinking, may indicate a more serious course of illness, even when pulmonary problems aren’t severe,” said David Altschul, M.D., chief of the division of neurovascular surgery at Einstein and Montefiore, and associate professor in the Leo M. Davidoff Department of Neurological Surgery and of radiology at Einstein. “Hospitals can use this knowledge to prioritize treatment and, hopefully, save more lives during this pandemic.”
Related Links:
Montefiore Health System
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Gold Member
12-Channel ECG
CM1200B
Gold Member
POC Blood Gas Analyzer
Stat Profile Prime Plus
New
Antimicrobial Mat
MULTIMAT
New
Measuring Rod
seca 233
Latest COVID-19 News
- Low-Cost System Detects SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Hospital Air Using High-Tech Bubbles
- World's First Inhalable COVID-19 Vaccine Approved in China
- COVID-19 Vaccine Patch Fights SARS-CoV-2 Variants Better than Needles
- Blood Viscosity Testing Can Predict Risk of Death in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
- ‘Covid Computer’ Uses AI to Detect COVID-19 from Chest CT Scans
- MRI Lung-Imaging Technique Shows Cause of Long-COVID Symptoms
- Chest CT Scans of COVID-19 Patients Could Help Distinguish Between SARS-CoV-2 Variants
- Specialized MRI Detects Lung Abnormalities in Non-Hospitalized Long COVID Patients
- AI Algorithm Identifies Hospitalized Patients at Highest Risk of Dying From COVID-19
- Sweat Sensor Detects Key Biomarkers That Provide Early Warning of COVID-19 and Flu
- Study Assesses Impact of COVID-19 on Ventilation/Perfusion Scintigraphy
- CT Imaging Study Finds Vaccination Reduces Risk of COVID-19 Associated Pulmonary Embolism
- Third Day in Hospital a ‘Tipping Point’ in Severity of COVID-19 Pneumonia
- Longer Interval Between COVID-19 Vaccines Generates Up to Nine Times as Many Antibodies
- AI Model for Monitoring COVID-19 Predicts Mortality Within First 30 Days of Admission
- AI Predicts COVID Prognosis at Near-Expert Level Based Off CT Scans
Channels
Critical Care
view channel
Intelligent Wound Dressing Reduces Inflammation and Promotes Healing
Chronic wounds, especially those caused by diabetes or circulatory disorders, are a widespread medical problem that burden healthcare systems. Patients often suffer from open skin lesions that fail to... Read more
Cuff-Free Blood Pressure Monitoring Device to Improve Early Detection and Management of Hypertension
Hypertension affects nearly half of all adults in the U.S. and remains the leading cause of cardiovascular disease. Regular and accurate blood pressure monitoring is essential for managing this condition,... Read more
New Understanding of Barrett’s Esophagus Formation to Enable Earlier Intervention and Diagnosis
Barrett’s esophagus is a condition in which the lining of the esophagus—normally composed of squamous epithelial cells—undergoes a transformation into cells resembling those found in the stomach or intestine.... Read more
Surgical Techniques
view channel
New Surgical Microscope Offers Precise 3D Imaging Using 48 Tiny Cameras
Surgeons have long relied on stereoscopic microscopes to gain depth perception during delicate procedures, but this method has limitations. While these microscopes provide a sense of three-dimensionality,... Read more
First-Of-Its-Kind Drug Illuminates Nerve Tissue for Faster and Safer Surgery
Surgeons face significant challenges when performing procedures near nerves, as they must work cautiously to avoid causing nerve damage, which can complicate the patient's recovery. Electrophysical monitors... Read more
Patient Care
view channel
Revolutionary Automatic IV-Line Flushing Device to Enhance Infusion Care
More than 80% of in-hospital patients receive intravenous (IV) therapy. Every dose of IV medicine delivered in a small volume (<250 mL) infusion bag should be followed by subsequent flushing to ensure... Read more
VR Training Tool Combats Contamination of Portable Medical Equipment
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) impact one in every 31 patients, cause nearly 100,000 deaths each year, and cost USD 28.4 billion in direct medical expenses. Notably, up to 75% of these infections... Read more
Portable Biosensor Platform to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections
Approximately 4 million patients in the European Union acquire healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) or nosocomial infections each year, with around 37,000 deaths directly resulting from these infections,... Read more
First-Of-Its-Kind Portable Germicidal Light Technology Disinfects High-Touch Clinical Surfaces in Seconds
Reducing healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) remains a pressing issue within global healthcare systems. In the United States alone, 1.7 million patients contract HAIs annually, leading to approximately... Read moreHealth IT
view channel
Printable Molecule-Selective Nanoparticles Enable Mass Production of Wearable Biosensors
The future of medicine is likely to focus on the personalization of healthcare—understanding exactly what an individual requires and delivering the appropriate combination of nutrients, metabolites, and... Read more
Smartwatches Could Detect Congestive Heart Failure
Diagnosing congestive heart failure (CHF) typically requires expensive and time-consuming imaging techniques like echocardiography, also known as cardiac ultrasound. Previously, detecting CHF by analyzing... Read more
Business
view channel
Bayer and Broad Institute Extend Research Collaboration to Develop New Cardiovascular Therapies
A research collaboration will focus on the joint discovery of novel therapeutic approaches based on findings in human genomics research related to cardiovascular diseases. Bayer (Berlin, Germany) and... Read more
