COVID-19 Brain Injury

COVID 19 pandemic has overwhelmed healthcare capacity in many regions around the world. As
resources become more limited and we have to triage /ration ventilators, neurologically
injured ICU patients without COVID 19 but with respiratory insufficiency may be triaged to no
ventilator care due to their perceived or actual prognosis. This may lead to increased rates
of withdrawal of care and mortality. Some neurologically injured ICU patients with
respiratory insufficiency may be simultaneously infected with COVID 19. Their outcomes are
completely unknown. Capturing data on the prevalence of limitation of care and prognosis in
this patient population will provide important information towards ongoing efforts in patient
care and resource utilization as we face the rapidly evolving COVID 19 pandemic. Given the
expected strain on ICU resources and limitations in research in ICUs during COVID 19
pandemic, data capture/study design must be targeted and pragmatic. This study is designed to
answer the most basic and important questions while minimizing the burden of data collection
on already overloaded providers.

This study design is comprised of two components: Component 1- Prospective cohort prevalence
study captures data related to treatments offered, limitations of care and patient outcome in
5 select primary neurological diagnoses requiring ICU care. Component 2- Case control study
captures the same data elements in the same patient populations during the 3 months prior
COVID 19 pandemic (Sept - Dec, 2019).