Characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 associated stroke: a UK multicentre case-control study

Perry, Richard J; Smith, Craig J; Roffe, Christine; Simister, Robert; Narayanamoorthi, Saravanan; Marigold, Richard; Willmot, Mark; Dixit, Anand; Hassan, Ahamad; Quinn, Terence J; Ankolekar, Sandeep; Zhang, Liqun; Banerjee, Soma; Ahmed, Urwah; Padmanabhan, Nishita; Ferdinand, Phillip; McGrane, Frances; Banaras, Azra; Marks, Isobel H; Werring, David J

Abstract

Objective We set out to determine which characteristics and outcomes of stroke are associated with COVID-19.

Methods This case-control study included patients admitted with stroke to 13 hospitals in England and Scotland between 9 March and 5 July 2020. We collected data on 86 strokes (81 ischaemic strokes and 5 intracerebral haemorrhages) in patients with evidence of COVID-19 at the time of stroke onset (cases). They were compared with 1384 strokes (1193 ischaemic strokes and 191 intracerebral haemorrhages) in patients admitted during the same time period who never had evidence of COVID-19 (controls). In addition, the whole group of stroke admissions, including another 37 patients who appeared to have developed COVID-19 after their stroke, were included in two logistic regression analyses examining which features were independently associated with COVID-19 status and with inpatient mortality.

Results Cases with ischaemic stroke were more likely than ischaemic controls to occur in Asians (18.8% vs 6.7%, p<0.0002), were more likely to involve multiple large vessel occlusions (17.9% vs 8.1%, p<0.03), were more severe (median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 8 vs 5, p<0.002), were associated with higher D-dimer levels (p<0.01) and were associated with more severe disability on discharge (median modified Rankin Scale score 4 vs 3, p<0.0001) and inpatient death (19.8% vs 6.9%, p<0.0001). Recurrence of stroke during the patient’s admission was rare in cases and controls (2.3% vs 1.0%, NS).

Conclusions Our data suggest that COVID-19 may be an important modifier of the onset, characteristics and outcome of acute ischaemic stroke.

This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.

Citation

Perry, R. J., Smith, C. J., Roffe, C., Simister, R., Narayanamoorthi, S., Marigold, R., …Werring, D. J. (2021). Characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 associated stroke: a UK multicentre case-control study. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 92(3), 242-248. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2020-324927

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 15, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Nov 5, 2020
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Deposit Date: Jun 21, 2023
• Journal: Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
• Print ISSN: 0022-3050
• Electronic ISSN: 1468-330X
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 92
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 242-248
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2020-324927
• Keywords: Psychiatry and Mental health; Neurology (clinical); Surgery