Stroke Incidence and Outcome in a Population With COVID-19

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: COVID-19 is associated with systemic thromboembolism including stroke. The study evaluated the 30-days stroke incidence in SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive patients and described the outcome of such patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of consecutive patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test between March 1st, 2020 and August 30th, 2020. The study included COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized and had a stroke within 30 days from the positive PCR test. RESULTS: During the study period, there were 4301 patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test. Of those, 1786 patients (41.5%) were hospitalized and 4 patients developed a stroke within 30 days. The 30-days stroke incidence was 0.09% and 0.2% of all and hospitalized patients, respectively. The mean age of stroke patients was 78 years and 2 died during the same hospitalization. The 4 patients had comorbidities, one had pre-existing atrial fibrillation and all had ischemic stroke. CONCLUSION: This study showed a low 30-day incidence of stroke among COVID-19 patients.