New-onset acute ischemic stroke following COVID-19: A case-control study.

Abstract

Background:

Neurological manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been highlighted. COVID-19 potentially increases the risk of thromboembolism. We aimed to compare patients with COVID-19 with and without new-onset acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Materials and Methods:

In this single-center retrospective case-control study, demographics, clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and clinical outcomes were compared between 51 patients with both COVID-19 and AIS (group A) and 160 patients with COVID-19 and without AIS (group B).

Results:

Patients in group A were significantly older, more likely to present with critical COVID-19 (P = 0.004), had higher rates of admission in the intensive care unit (P < 0.001), more duration of hospitalization (P < 0.001), and higher in-hospital mortality (P < 0.001). At the time of hospitalization, O2 saturation (P = 0.011), PH (P = 0.04), and HCO3 (P = 0.005) were lower in group A. White blood cell count (P = 0.002), neutrophil count (P < 0.001), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.001), D-Dimer (P < 0.001), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (P < 0.001), and BUN/Cr ratio (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in patients with AIS.

Conclusion:

Stroke in COVID-19 is multifactorial. In addition to conventional risk factors of ischemic stroke (age and cardiovascular risk factors), we found that patients with more severe COVID-19 are more prone to ischemic stroke. Furthermore, leukocyte count, neutrophil count, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, D-Dimer, BUN, and BUN/Cr ratio were higher in patients with AIS following COVID-19 infection.

• Authors: Fariborz Khorvash, Mohammad Amin Najafi, Mohsen Kheradmand, Mohammad Saadatnia, Rojin Chegini, Farideh Najafi
• Journal: Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (J Res Med Sci) Vol. 27 Pg. 31 ( 2022) ISSN: 1735-1995 [Print] India
• PMID: 35548177 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright: © 2022 Journal of Research in Medical Sciences.