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01-03-2021 | Care | COVID-19

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with neurological disorders: an urgent need to enhance the health care system’s preparedness

Authors: Silvia Zullo, Francesca Ingravallo, Vittorio Crespi, Marta Cascioli, Roberto D’Alessandro, Marcella Gasperini, Chiara Lalli, Alessandra Lugaresi, Maura Marogna, Maurizio Mori, Ilaria Pesci, Francesca Pistoia, Corinna Porteri, Marcella Vedovello, Simone Veronese, Eugenio Pucci, Alessandra Solari, Gruppo di Studio “Bioetica e Cure Palliative” of the Italian Neurological Society

Published in: Neurological Sciences | Issue 3/2021

Excerpt

Italy was the first nation in Europe to be affected by COVID-19 pandemic, and it was subjected to a level 1 national lockdown for almost 2 months (from March 9 to May 4, 2020) [1]. During the mandatory lockdown, 29,684 deaths due to COVID-19 were registered, 23,163 of which (78%) were in four Northern regions: Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, Piedmont, and Veneto [2]. This health emergency highlighted the imbalance existing between the needs of individuals (prevention, diagnosis, treatment) and available resources (services, supplies, professionals, and research). In particular, the reorganization of health services and the social distancing measures implemented to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2, together with people’s fears of being infected and the lack of targeted information campaigns, have led to a series of consequences for both patients and their families. As far as the neurological field is concerned, the impact of this “healthcare void” has been particularly remarkable for people suffering from chronic neurological conditions, as well as for those with neurological emergencies, and has resulted in worse health outcomes. In some instances, the criteria adopted for the allocation of health resources during the COVID-19 pandemic have penalized patients with neurological diseases [3]. …

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Title: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with neurological disorders: an urgent need to enhance the health care system’s preparedness
Authors: Silvia Zullo
Francesca Ingravallo
Vittorio Crespi
Marta Cascioli
Roberto D’Alessandro
Marcella Gasperini
Chiara Lalli
Alessandra Lugaresi
Maura Marogna
Maurizio Mori
Ilaria Pesci
Francesca Pistoia
Corinna Porteri
Marcella Vedovello
Simone Veronese
Eugenio Pucci
Alessandra Solari
Gruppo di Studio “Bioetica e Cure Palliative” of the Italian Neurological Society
Publication date: 01-03-2021
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Keywords: Care
Stroke Unit
COVID-19
Published in: Neurological Sciences / Issue 3/2021
Print ISSN: 1590-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1590-3478
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-04984-4

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with neurological disorders: an urgent need to enhance the health care system’s preparedness

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