COVID-19 Associated With Acute Ischemic Stroke

COVID-19 infection is significantly associated with strokes, and patients with COVID-19 should undergo more aggressive monitoring for stroke, according to new research published in the American Journal of Neurology.

The findings were based on a retrospective case-control study with 123 patients presenting to the hospital for suspicion of stroke. Comparing the group of patients with stroke versus non-stroke, the authors showed a significantly elevated number of patients with COVID-19 infection among the stroke group after stratifying for other known common stroke risk factors.

The research was led by Puneet Belani, MD, Assistant Professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology.

After adjusting for age, gender, and risk factors, COVID-19 infection had a significant independent association with acute ischemic stroke compared to control subjects (OR 3.9; 95% CI 1.7-8.9;  p= 0.001). The patients presented to New York City hospital for suspicion of stroke during COVID-19 pandemic, March to April 2020.

“This is the first major peer reviewed study to show that COVID-19 infection is a risk factor for acute strokes,” sayd Dr. Belani. “Patients with COVID-19 should be evaluated early for acute neurological changes and timely workup should be performed in patients suspected to have stroke to reduce morbidity and mortality.”

For more information about the study, visit: http://www.ajnr.org/content/ajnr/early/2020/06/25/ajnr.A6650.full.pdf