Stroke in COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Publication: International Journal of Stroke

Stefania Nannoni , Rosa de Groot, Steven Bell, Hugh S Markus

26 October 2020


Summary:

Fourteen out of every 1,000 COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital experience a stroke, a rate that is even higher in older patients and those with severe infection and pre-existing vascular conditions.

A team of researchers at the Stroke Research Group, carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of published research into the link between COVID-19 and stroke. In total, the researchers analysed 61 studies, covering more than 100,000 patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. The researchers found that stroke occurred in 14 out of every 1,000 cases. The most common manifestation was acute ischemic stroke, which occurred in just over 12 out of every 1,000 cases. Brain haemorrhage was less common, occurring in 1.6 out of every 1,000 cases. Most patients had been admitted with COVID-19 symptoms, with stroke occurring a few days later.

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