The association of COVID-19 with the incidence of stroke within thirty days following infection with the virus

Abstract

In the recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic has become a global issue. Its complications are investigated every day. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of contraction of COVID-19 on the incidence of stroke and the effect of the virus on the severity of the disease and its mortality. Methods: All the patients referring to the emergency department of Imam Reza Hospital during the fall and winter of 2021 with a diagnosis of stroke stated for them have been assessed; and the status of contraction of COVID-19 in the past 30 days was investigated; and along with them, the demographic and clinical data of all the patients was recorded. The data was analyzed utilizing statistical methods and computer software. Results: The information of 776 patients of stroke was gathered; among them, 13 patients had a history of COVID-19 in the past 30 days. The average ages of the patients in the two groups were not very different; and most of the patients were above 60 years old. Most of the patients with a history of COVID-19 were male; while it was the reverse in the patients without the history. In the brain imaging of the patients, the cases with a history of COVID-19 had a higher percentage of brain hemorrhage. The mortality had a higher percentage in the patients with a history of COVID-19 than the patients without the history.