Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.; and.
J Clin Neurophysiol. 2022 Nov 1;39(7):567-574. doi: 10.1097/WNP.0000000000000802. Epub 2020 Dec 22.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has significantly impacted healthcare delivery and utilization. The aim of this article was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on in-hospital continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) utilization and identify areas for process improvement.
A 38-question web-based survey was distributed to site principal investigators of the Critical Care EEG Monitoring Research Consortium, and institutional contacts for the Neurodiagnostic Credentialing and Accreditation Board. The survey addressed the following aspects of cEEG utilization: (1) general center characteristics, (2) cEEG utilization and review, (3) staffing and workflow, and (4) health impact on EEG technologists.
The survey was open from June 12, 2020 to June 30, 2020 and distributed to 174 centers with 79 responses (45.4%). Forty centers were located in COVID-19 hotspots. Fifty-seven centers (72.1%) reported cEEG volume reduction. Centers in the Northeast were most likely to report cEEG volume reduction (odds ratio [OR] 7.19 [1.53-33.83]; P = 0.012). Additionally, centers reporting decrease in outside hospital transfers reported cEEG volume reduction; OR 21.67 [4.57-102.81]; P ≤ 0.0001. Twenty-six centers (32.91%) reported reduction in EEG technologist coverage. Eighteen centers had personal protective equipment shortages for EEG technologists. Technologists at these centers were more likely to quarantine for suspected or confirmed COVID-19; OR 3.14 [1.01-9.63]; P = 0.058.
There has been a widespread reduction in cEEG volume during the pandemic. Given the anticipated duration of the pandemic and the importance of cEEG in managing hospitalized patients, methods to optimize use need to be prioritized to provide optimal care. Because the survey provides a cross-sectional assessment, follow-up studies can determine the long-term impact of the pandemic on cEEG utilization.
2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）对医疗保健的提供和利用产生了重大影响。本文的目的是评估 COVID-19 大流行对住院连续脑电图（cEEG）使用的影响，并确定改进流程的领域。
向危重病脑电图监测研究联盟的现场主要研究者以及神经诊断认证和认可委员会的机构联系人分发了一份 38 个问题的网络调查。该调查涉及 cEEG 使用的以下方面：（1）一般中心特征，（2）cEEG 使用和审查，（3）人员配备和工作流程，以及（4）对脑电图技术员的健康影响。
该调查于 2020 年 6 月 12 日至 6 月 30 日开放，分发给 174 个中心，收到 79 个回复（45.4%）。40 个中心位于 COVID-19 热点地区。57 个中心（72.1%）报告 cEEG 量减少。东北的中心最有可能报告 cEEG 量减少（优势比[OR]7.19[1.53-33.83]；P=0.012）。此外，报告减少外院转院的中心报告 cEEG 量减少；OR 21.67[4.57-102.81]；P≤0.0001。26 个中心（32.91%）报告脑电图技术员覆盖率降低。18 个中心的脑电图技术员个人防护设备短缺。这些中心的技术员更有可能因疑似或确诊 COVID-19 而隔离；OR 3.14[1.01-9.63]；P=0.058。
大流行期间 cEEG 量普遍减少。鉴于大流行的预期持续时间以及 cEEG 在管理住院患者中的重要性，需要优先考虑优化使用的方法，以提供最佳护理。由于调查提供了横断面评估，后续研究可以确定大流行对 cEEG 使用的长期影响。
