Browsing by Author "Deelaka, A.G.S."

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    Impact of COVID-19 on stroke admissions in a Sri Lankan tertiary care hospital:Data from the Ragama stroke registry
    (Ceylon College of Physicians, 2021) Deelaka, A.G.S.; Dep WDC, W.D.C.; Nanayakkara, Y.P.; Chandrasiri, H.M.J.; Mettananda, K.C.D.; Pathmeswaran, A.; Ranawaka, U.K.
    Introduction and Objectives The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a tremendous impact on stroke care globally. We investigated the impact of the pandemic on stroke admissions in a Sri Lankan tertiary care hospital. Methods We studied the number of admissions to the Stroke Unit and the University Medical Unit, Colombo North Teaching Hospital (CNTH) over four years, and delays in seeking medical care of patients admitted to the Stroke Unit. We compared data during a calendar year of COVID pandemic (01.04.2020 - 31.03.2021) with the preceding 3 pre-COVID years (01.04.2017 一 31.03.2020). Data regarding COVID year was compared with pre-COVID years using independent-samples t-test and nonparametric test. Results Mean number of stroke admissions per month during the pandemic was significantly lower compared to that of pre-COVID years: Stroke Unit (monthly mean admissions, COVID year vs pre-COVID years; 11 ± 3.5 vs 20 ± 3.1; pv0.01); University Medical Unit (12 ± .2 vs 18 ± 3.4; p<0.01). The lowest number of admissions was reported during the period with the highest COVID caseload in Sri Lanka. However, there was no significant difference in the median delays to seeking medical care between the COVID pandemic and pre-COVID years: delay to first medical contact: 2.0 h vs 2.4 h, p=0.208; first hospital admission: 3.0 h vs 3.0 h; p=0.993, admission to CNTH: 3.4 h vs 5.0 h; p=0.174. Conclusions Stroke admissions were significantly lower during the COVID pandemic, but there was no difference in the delays in seeking medical care during the same period.
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    Spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhages from a Sri Lankan tertiary care center: 5-year data
    (Ceylon College of Physicians, 2021) Dep, W.D.C.; Deelaka, A.G.S.; Somaratne, K.G.S.K.; Meegahapola, H.; Premadasa, H.M.S.D.; Kurukulasuriya, S.A.F.; Mettananda, K.C.D.; Ranawaka, U.K.
    Introduction and Objectives Epidemiological data on spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (sICH) is limited from South Asia. We sought to describe epidemiology of sICH in a Sri Lankan cohort. Methods We studied all patients with stroke admitted to the Stroke Unit, Colombo North Teaching Hospital over five years. Data from sICH patients regarding treatment seeking delays, clinical char-jcteristics, risk factors, stroke severity and functional outcome were compared with ischa-mic stroke (IS) patients. Resists 984 patients (mean age 58.7 years; 62.1% males) were studied: sICH 15.0% (147 patients), IS 85.0%. sICH patients: mean age 58.0 years; 67.3% males. sICH patients presented to hospital earlier (<3h sICH 70.6%, IS 37.2%, p<0.001) and had more severe strokes (NIHSS>15) (sICH 21.3%, IS 12.2%; p<0.001). Hypertension was commoner in sICH group (sICH 72.6%, IS 63.5%; p=0.034), whereas diabetes (sICH 39.0%, IS 51.6%; p=0.005) and smoking (sICH 16.6%, IS 25.5%; p=0.021) were less common. Altered consciousness (sICH 30.3%, IS 18.3%; p=0.001), dysphagia (sICH 55.9%, IS 34.4%; p<0.001), bladder involvement (sICH 56.6%, IS 28.7%; p<0.001), and seizures (sICH 4.1%, IS 1.5%; p=0.029) were commoner among sICH patients. sICH patients had more severe disability on discharge (Barthel index 0-60: sICH 71.1%, IS 45.2%; p<0.001; modified Rankin scale (mRS) 3-6: sICH 76.7%, IS 52.1%; p<0.001). sICH location (lobar vs. deep) and presence of intraventricular haemorrhage was not associated with stroke severity. Lobar ICHs had more severe disability on discharge (Barthel index <60: p=0.037; mRS>3: p=0.020). On logistic regression, sICH was independently associated with early presentation to hospital (OR 1.79; p=0.039), and severe disability on discharge (Barthel index <60: OR 2.42, p=0.028; mRS>3: OR 2.70, p=0.012). Conclusions sICH patients sought medical attention early and had different clinical profiles, more severe strokes and more severe disabilities.