Ischemic stroke in COVID-19 patients: Mechanisms, treatment, and outcomes in a consecutive Swiss Stroke Registry analysis

Comparison of radiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 positive and negative ischemic stroke patients undergoing revascularization: A single-centre Turkish study

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to compare the radiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19-positive and -negative acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who underwent revascularization and to evaluate whether COVID-19 has an effect on revascularization and outcome in AIS patients with COVID-19 infection.

METHODS

Consecutive COVID-19 positive and negative AIS patients who underwent intravenous thrombolysis and/or endovascular therapy in our hospital between March 2020 and February 2022 were included in this study. Our study is retrospective and 23 COVID-19 positive patients and 108 COVID-19 negative patients were compared in terms of radiological and clinical characteristics.

RESULTS

Hypertension was lower in the COVID-19 positive ischemic stroke group (p=0.029). Admission NIHSS score was higher in COVID-19 positive patients (p=0.041). ASPECTS was found to be lower in COVID-19 positive ischemic stroke patients (p=0.019). The rate of hyperdense artery sign differed between groups (p=0.014) and was higher in the COVID-19 positive ischemic stroke group. The incidence of multi-vessel occlusion was found to be significantly higher in the COVID-19-positive ischemic stroke group (p=0.002). In terms of prognostic features, only the 3-month good outcome rate was statistically significantly lower in the COVID-19-positive ischemic stroke group (p=0.011).

CONCLUSION

This study found that radiologically, COVID-19 may be associated with lower ASPECTS in ischemic stroke patients receiving revascularization treatment and may predispose to multivessel occlusion and hyperdense artery sign. Clinically, COVID-19 may be associated with a more severe initial presentation and worse prognosis at 3 months in ischemic stroke patients undergoing revascularization, but may not affect long-term mortality.

Prevalence and impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients with acute ischaemic stroke: a nationwide register-based cohort study in Denmark

OBJECTIVES

An increased risk of stroke has been reported among patients with COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to investigate the nationwide prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among patients with acute ischaemic stroke and to study the impact on stroke severity, quality of care and mortality on an individual patient level.

DESIGN

This was a nationwide register-based cohort study.

SETTING

We used data from several Danish registers which were linked at an individual patient level using the unique civil registration number assigned to all Danish citizens. Patients were identified from the Danish Stroke Registry and information on SARS-CoV-2 infection status was collected from the Danish National COVID-19 Registry. Concurrent SARS-CoV-2 infection was defined as a positive PCR test within 31 days prior to, and 1 day after, stroke admission. Information on comorbidity was collected from the Danish National Patient Registry and information on vital status was collected from the Danish Civil Registration System.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 11 502 patients admitted with acute ischaemic stroke from 10 March 2020 to 31 May 2021 were included in the study.

RESULTS

Among the included patients, the majority (84.6%) were tested for SARS-CoV-2, but only 68 had a positive test. These patients were more prone to have atrial fibrillation and were more often treated with reperfusion therapy. They had a significantly increased risk of severe stroke (adjusted relative risk (aRR) 1.93, 95% CI: 1.22 to 3.04) and a significantly increased 30-day mortality risk (aRR 2.29, 95% CI: 1.19 to 4.39). There was no difference in the proportion of patients fulfilling relevant performance measures on quality of care.

CONCLUSION

In this nationwide study, only 0.6% of patients with acute ischaemic stroke were tested positive for a concurrent SARS-CoV-2 infection. The patients with SARS-CoV-2 presented with more severe strokes.

Sex-specific Impact of the first COVID-19 Lockdown on Age Structure and Case Acuity at Admission in a Patient Population in southwestern Germany: a retrospective comparative Study in Neuroradiology

OBJECTIVES

A hard lockdown was presumed to lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment of serious diseases, resulting in higher acuity at admission. This should be elaborated based on the estimated acuity of the cases, changes in findings during hospitalisation, age structure and biological sex.

DESIGN

Retrospective monocentric cross-sectional study.

SETTING

German Neuroradiology Department at a .

PARTICIPANTS

In 2019, n=1158 patients were admitted in contrast to n=884 during the first hard lockdown in 2020 (11th-13th week).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Three radiologists evaluated the initial case acuity, classified them into three groups (not acute, subacute and acute), and evaluated if there was a relevant clinical deterioration. The data analysis was conducted using non-parametric methods and multivariate regression analysis.

RESULTS

A 24% decrease in the number of examinations from 2019 to 2020 (p=0.025) was revealed. In women, the case acuity increased by 21% during the lockdown period (p=0.002). A 30% decrease in acute cases in men was observable (in women 5% decrease). Not acute cases decreased in both women and men (47%; 24%), while the subacute cases remained stable in men (0%) and decreased in women (28%). Regression analysis revealed the higher the age, the higher the acuity (p<0.001 in both sexes), particularly among women admitted during the lockdown period (p=0.006).

CONCLUSION

The lockdown led to a decrease in neuroradiological consultations, with delays in seeking medical care. In women, the number of most severe cases remained stable, whereas the mean case acuity and age increased. This could be due to greater pandemic-related anxiety among women, however, with severe symptoms they were seeking for medical help. In contrast in men, the absolute number of most severe cases decreased, whereas the mean acuity and age remained nearly unaffected. This could be attributable to a reduced willingness to seek for medical consultation.

Effect of Asymptomatic and Symptomatic COVID-19 on Acute Ischemic Stroke Revascularization Outcomes

BACKGROUND

The association of COVID-19 with higher bleeding risk and worse outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) undergoing revascularization may be related to the presence of infection symptoms. We aimed to assess the safety and outcomes of revascularization treatments in patients with AIS with asymptomatic COVID-19 (AS-COVID) or symptomatic COVID-19 (S-COVID).

METHODS

We conducted an international multicenter retrospective cohort study of consecutive AIS tested for SARS-CoV-2, receiving intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular treatment between 2020 and 2021. We compared COVID-negative controls, AS-COVID, and S-COVID using multivariable regression. We assessed symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage), mortality, and 3-month disability (modified Rankin Scale score).

RESULTS

Among 15 124 patients from 105 centers (median age, 71 years; 49% men; 39% treated with intravenous thrombolysis only; and 61% with endovascular treatment±intravenous thrombolysis), 849 (5.6%) had COVID-19, of whom 395 (46%) were asymptomatic and 454 (54%) symptomatic. Compared with controls, both patients with AS-COVID and S-COVID had higher symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage rates (COVID-controls, 5%; AS-COVID, 7.6%; S-COVID, 9.4%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.43 [95% CI, 1.03-1.99]; aOR, 1.63 [95% CI, 1.14-2.32], respectively). Only in patients with symptomatic infections, we observed a significant increase in mortality at 24 hours (COVID-controls, 1.3%; S-COVID, 4.8%; aOR, 2.97 [95% CI, 1.76-5.03]) and 3 months (COVID-controls, 19.5%; S-COVID, 40%; aOR, 2.64 [95% CI, 2.06-3.37]). Patients with COVID-19 had worse 3-month disability regardless of disease symptoms although disability was affected to a greater extent in symptomatic patients (aOR for worse modified Rankin Scale score shift: AS-COVID, 1.25 [95% CI, 1.03-1.51]; S-COVID, 2.10 [95% CI, 1.75-2.53]). S-COVID had lower successful recanalization (74.9% versus 85.6%; P<0.001), first pass recanalization (20.3% versus 28.3%; P=0.005), and a higher number of passes.

CONCLUSIONS

In AIS undergoing revascularization treatments, both AS-COVID and S-COVID influence the risk of intracranial bleeding and worse clinical outcomes. The magnitude of this effect is more pronounced in symptomatic infections, which also present less favorable recanalization outcomes. These findings emphasize the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the prognosis of revascularized AIS independent of symptom status.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04895462.

Intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke in COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The impact of COVID-19 on clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients receiving reperfusion therapy remains unclear. We therefore aimed to synthesize the available evidence to investigate the safety and short-term efficacy of reperfusion therapy in this patient population.

Methods

We searched the electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library Reviews for randomized controlled trials and observational studies that investigated the use of intravenous thrombolysis, endovascular therapy, or a combination of both in acute ischemic stroke patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, compared to controls. Our primary safety outcomes included any intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), symptomatic ICH and all-cause in-hospital mortality. Short-term favorable functional outcomes were assessed at discharge and at 3 months. We calculated pooled risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model. Heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochran's Q test and I2 statistics.

Results

We included 11 studies with a total of 477 COVID-19 positive and 8,092 COVID-19 negative ischemic stroke patients who underwent reperfusion therapy. COVID-19 positive patients exhibited a significantly higher risk of experiencing any ICH (RR 1.54, 95% CI 1.16-2.05, p < 0.001), while the nominally increased risk of symptomatic ICH in these patients did not reach statistical significance (RR 2.04, 95% CI 0.97-4.31; p = 0.06). COVID-19 positive stroke patients also had a significantly higher in-hospital mortality compared to COVID-19 negative stroke patients (RR 2.78, 95% CI 2.15-3.59, p < 0.001). Moreover, COVID-19 positive stroke patients were less likely to achieve a favorable functional outcome at discharge (RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.51-0.86, p < 0.001) compared to COVID-19 negative patients, but this difference was not observed at 3-month follow-up (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.14-2.91, p = 0.56).

Conclusion

COVID-19 appears to have an adverse impact on acute ischemic stroke patients who undergo reperfusion therapy, leading to an elevated risk of any ICH, higher mortality and lower likelihood of favorable functional outcome.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO, identifier CRD42022309785.

Ischemic strokes in COVID-19: risk factors, obesity paradox, and distinction between trigger and causal association

Background and purpose

Stroke has been described as a COVID-19 complication. However, its occurrence rate, risk factors, and causal relationships are still not well established.

Methods

We describe the characteristics of confirmed COVID-19-related strokes among all cases of COVID-19 hospitalized in our health network, from November 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Risk factor analysis has been conducted for ischemic stroke (IS), which represents 92% of all confirmed cases of Covid-19-related strokes, and a "causal attribution to infection" classification is provided.

Results

In all, 62/4105 hospitalized COVID-19 patients had an acute stroke (1.51%). Severe COVID-19 (OR 2.27-CI 1.06-4.77; p = 0.032), atrial fibrillation (OR 3.65-CI 1.63-7.98; p = 0.001), and ischemic heart disease (OR 4.590-CI 1.714-12.137; p = 0.002) proved to be independent risk factors for IS, while obesity was a protective factor (OR 0.90-CI 0.82-0.97; p = 0.012). COVID-19 had a causal role in 32.1% of IS cases, was a relevant cofactor in 28.6% of cases of IS, and was a possible trigger in 39.3% of events.

Conclusion

Our stroke occurrence rate is consistent with other population-based reports (range 0.34-2.7%). Prespecified peculiar clinical and radiological features allow the distinction between "IS caused by COVID-19" and "IS triggered by COVID-19." Clinical history of vascular diseases and risk factors is crucial in determining the risk of IS in patients with COVID-19. However, the protective effect of a BMI > 30 kg/m2 seems to suggest an obesity paradox.

Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 associated vasculopathic diseases

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has shown to be an infectious disease affecting not only of the respiratory system, but also cardiovascular system leading to different COVID-19-associated vasculopathies. Venous and arterial thromboembolic events have been frequently described among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and inflammatory vasculopathic changes have also been observed. Several of the reported COVID-19 associated vasculopathies exhibit differences on epidemiology, clinical characteristics and outcome compared to non-COVID-19 types. This review focuses on the epidemiology, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics as well as outcome data of COVID-19 associated thromboembolic events and inflammatory vasculopathies, elaborating similarities and differences with non-COVID-19 cohorts.

Investigation of shared genes and regulatory mechanisms associated with coronavirus disease 2019 and ischemic stroke

Objective

Clinical associations between coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and ischemic stroke (IS) have been reported. This study aimed to investigate the shared genes between COVID-19 and IS and explore their regulatory mechanisms.

Methods

Published datasets for COVID-19 and IS were downloaded. Common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the two diseases were identified, followed by protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Moreover, overlapping module genes associated with the two diseases were investigated using weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA). Through intersection analysis of PPI cluster genes and overlapping module genes, hub-shared genes associated with the two diseases were obtained, followed by functional enrichment analysis and external dataset validation. Moreover, the upstream miRNAs and transcription factors (TFs) of the hub-shared genes were predicted.

Results

A total of 91 common DEGs were identified from the clusters of the PPI network, and 129 overlapping module genes were screened using WGCNA. Based on further intersection analysis, four hub-shared genes in IS and COVID-19 were identified, including PDE5A, ITGB3, CEACAM8, and BPI. These hub-shared genes were remarkably enriched in pathways such as ECM-receptor interaction and focal adhesion pathways. Moreover, ITGB3, PDE5A, and CEACAM8 were targeted by 53, 32, and 3 miRNAs, respectively, and these miRNAs were also enriched in the aforementioned pathways. Furthermore, TFs, such as lactoferrin, demonstrated a stronger predicted correlation with the hub-shared genes.

Conclusion

The four identified hub-shared genes may participate in crucial mechanisms underlying both COVID-19 and IS and may exhibit the potential to be biomarkers or therapeutic targets for the two diseases.

[Current approaches in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with neurological diseases after COVID-19. Resolution of the International Experts Forum]

Despite the significant shift in global attention away from the pandemic, the problem of a new coronavirus infection remains important in the medical community. Almost 3 years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic the issues of rehabilitation and management of delayed manifestations and sequelae of the disease are especially important. According to numerous available data, the new coronavirus infection is characterized by multiorgan lesions. Respiratory dysfunction, clotting disorders, myocardial dysfunction and various arrhythmias, acute coronary syndrome, acute renal failure, GI disorders, hepatocellular damage, hyperglycemia and ketosis, dermatological complications, ophthalmological symptoms and neurological disorders may be found. Significant prevalence of the latter in the post-coronavirus period necessitated this International Expert Forum to develop unified approaches to the management of patients with neurological complications and sequelae of new coronavirus infection based on practical experience and considering the scientific information available on COVID-19. The expert council developed a resolution formulating the tactics for the management of patients with neurological manifestations of COVID-19.

Safety and Outcome of Revascularization Treatment in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke and COVID-19: The Global COVID-19 Stroke Registry

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

COVID-19-related inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and coagulopathy may increase the bleeding risk and lower the efficacy of revascularization treatments in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aimed to evaluate the safety and outcomes of revascularization treatments in patients with AIS and COVID-19.

METHODS

This was a retrospective multicenter cohort study of consecutive patients with AIS receiving intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and/or endovascular treatment (EVT) between March 2020 and June 2021 tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. With a doubly robust model combining propensity score weighting and multivariate regression, we studied the association of COVID-19 with intracranial bleeding complications and clinical outcomes. Subgroup analyses were performed according to treatment groups (IVT-only and EVT).

RESULTS

Of a total of 15,128 included patients from 105 centers, 853 (5.6%) were diagnosed with COVID-19; of those, 5,848 (38.7%) patients received IVT-only and 9,280 (61.3%) EVT (with or without IVT). Patients with COVID-19 had a higher rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) (adjusted OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.16-2.01), symptomatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SSAH) (OR 1.80; 95% CI 1.20-2.69), SICH and/or SSAH combined (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.23-1.99), 24-hour mortality (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.58-3.86), and 3-month mortality (OR 1.88; 95% CI 1.52-2.33). Patients with COVID-19 also had an unfavorable shift in the distribution of the modified Rankin score at 3 months (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.26-1.60).

DISCUSSION

Patients with AIS and COVID-19 showed higher rates of intracranial bleeding complications and worse clinical outcomes after revascularization treatments than contemporaneous non-COVID-19 patients receiving treatment. Current available data do not allow direct conclusions to be drawn on the effectiveness of revascularization treatments in patients with COVID-19 or to establish different treatment recommendations in this subgroup of patients with ischemic stroke. Our findings can be taken into consideration for treatment decisions, patient monitoring, and establishing prognosis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION

The study was registered under ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04895462.

COVID-19 independently predicts poor outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke- Insights from a multicenter study from Pakistan and United Arab Emirates

BACKGROUND

Ischemic stroke associated with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has been well recognized by now. Few studies have compared COVID related versus unrelated strokes. We intend to report on a large group of Asian patients from two countries and compare COVID with non-COVID strokes admitted during the same time period.

METHODS

Consecutive cases of acute ischemic stroke either presenting or developing, between March 2020 and December 2021 in four tertiary care hospitals (1 in Dubai, UAE and 3 in Karachi, Pakistan) and testing positive for COVID-19 were included in the study. Patients admitted with ischemic stroke during the same time period and who tested negative for COVID-19 were also randomly selected from the four hospitals. All data was collected from the medical records of the patients and recorded on a standard questionnaire before it was entered in SPSS version 21 for analysis.

RESULTS

There were 139 COVID positive and 271 COVID negative patients with acute ischemic stroke included in the current study. There were significantly more males (80.6% vs 64.9%, p=0.001) and more large vessel strokes in the COVID positive group (41% vs 21.8%, p<0.001). Being COVID positive was an independent predictor of poor outcome at discharge, defined as a modified Rankin score of 3-6 (OR 3.87, 95% CI 2.21-6.77) after adjusting for country, age, sex, vascular comorbid conditions and stroke subtype.

CONCLUSIONS

In this largest series of patients with COVID related strokes from Asia, COVID-19 was an independent predictor of poor outcomes at discharge after adjusting for other variables.

Delirium in Adults With COVID-19-Related Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Comparison With Other Etiologies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Neurologic complications have been associated with COVID-19, including delirium. Such complications have been reported to be frequent among intensive care unit (ICU)-admitted patients. We hypothesized that the rate of neurologic complications would be higher in COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) than those who develop ARDS from a different cause.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study in the adult ICU of Lausanne University Hospital, including all consecutive patients fulfilling the Berlin criteria for ARDS hospitalized between December 2017 and June 2021, stratifying exposure between COVID-19 or not. The primary outcome was delirium onset during ICU stay, defined by the confusion assessment method (CAM-ICU). Exploratory outcomes included development of neurologic complications of the central nervous system (stroke, hemorrhage, and vasculitis), critical illness weakness, and 30- and 180-day all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Three hundred eleven patients were included in the study (253 with COVID-19 and 58 with other causes) and CAM-ICU could be assessed in 231 (74.3% in COVID-19 vs 74.1% in non-COVID-19). The proportion of patients developing delirium was similar in patients with COVID-19 and controls in univariate comparison (69.1% vs 60.5%, p = 0.246). Yet, patients with COVID-19 had a higher body mass index, lower ICU severity, longer mechanical ventilation, and higher sedation doses (propofol and dexmedetomidine). After adjusting for these factors in a multivariable analysis, the risk of delirium remained comparable across groups (adjusted OR [95% CI]: 0.86 [0.35-2.1]). Similarly, COVID-19-related ARDS had no effect on all-cause mortality at 30 days (adjusted OR: 0.87 [0.39-1.92]) and 180 days (adjusted OR: 0.67 [0.33-1.35]). Finally, neurologic complications affecting the CNS (adjusted OR: 1.15 [0.25-5.29]) and critical illness weakness (adjusted OR: 2.99 [0.97-9.1]) were not higher in the COVID-19 group.

DISCUSSION

Compared with other etiologies, patients with COVID-19 did not have higher incidence of delirium and other neurologic complications, after accounting for underlying disease severity in patients with ARDS. Management of COVID-19-associated ARDS needed longer invasive ventilation and higher sedation, which could explain higher rates of delirium in uncontrolled studies.

Exposure to air pollution and its effect on ischemic strokes (EP-PARTICLES study)

It is well known that exceeded levels of particulate matter in the air and other air pollutants harmfully affect the cardiovascular system. Empirical analyses of the effects of these factors on stroke incidence and mortality are still limited. The main objective of our analyses was to determine the association between short-term exposure to air pollutants and stroke incidence in non-industrial areas, more specifically in north-eastern Poland. To achieve this aim, we used data from the National Health Fund on patients hospitalized for stroke between 2011 and 2020 in the largest city of the region described as the Green Lungs of Poland. The pollution levels and atmospheric conditions data were obtained from the Provincial Inspectorate for Environmental Protection and the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. Using daily data on hospitalizations, atmospheric conditions, and pollution, as well as ordered logistic regression models the hypotheses on the impact of weather and air pollution conditions on ischemic strokes were tested. The study group included 4838 patients, 45.6% of whom were male; the average patient age was approximately 74 years. The average concentrations of PM_2.5 were 19.09 µg/m³, PM₁₀ 26.66 µg/m³ and CO 0.35 µg/m³. Analyses showed that an increase in PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ concentrations by 10 µg/m³ was associated with an increase in the incidence of stroke on the day of exposure (OR = 1.075, 95% CI 0.999-1.157, P = 0.053; OR = 1.056, 95% CI 1.004-1.110, P = 0.035) and the effect was even several times greater on the occurrence of a stroke event in general (PM_2.5: OR = 1.120, 95% CI 1.013-1.237, P = 0.026; PM₁₀: OR = 1.103, 95% CI 1.028-1.182, P = 0.006). Furthermore, a short-term (up to 3 days) effect of CO on stroke incidence was observed in the study area. An increase of 1 μg/m³ CO was associated with a lower incidence of stroke 2 days after the exposure (OR = 0.976, 95% CI 0.953-0.998, P = 0.037) and a higher incidence 3 days after the exposure (OR = 1.026, 95% CI 1.004-1.049, P = 0.022).

Acute Arterial Ischemic Stroke Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Acute arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) has been reported as a rare adverse event following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination with messenger RNA (mRNA) or viral vector vaccines. However, data are sparse regarding the risk of postvaccination AIS and its potential association with thrombotic-thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs), pharmacovigilance registries, registry-based studies, observational cohorts, and case-series was performed with the aim to calculate the following: (1) the pooled proportion of patients presenting with AIS following COVID-19 vaccination; (2) the prevalence of AIS after mRNA and vector-based vaccination; and (3) the proportion of TTS among postvaccination AIS cases. Patient characteristics were assessed as secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

Two RCTs, 3 cohort studies, and 11 registry-based studies comprising 17,481 AIS cases among 782,989,363 COVID-19 vaccinations were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled proportion of AIS following exposure to any COVID-19 vaccine type was 4.7 cases per 100,000 vaccinations (95% CI 2.2-8.1; I 2 = 99.9%). The pooled proportion of AIS following mRNA vaccination (9.2 cases per 100,000 vaccinations; 95% CI 2.5-19.3; I 2 = 99.9%) did not differ compared with adenovirus-based vaccination (2.9 cases per 100,000 vaccinations; 95% CI 0.3-7.8; I 2 = 99.9%). No differences regarding demographics were disclosed between patients with AIS following mRNA-based or vector-based vaccination. The pooled proportion of TTS among postvaccination AIS cases was 3.1% (95% CI 0.7%-7.2%; I 2 = 78.8%).

DISCUSSION

The pooled proportion of AIS following COVID-19 vaccination is comparable with the prevalence of AIS in the general population and much lower than the AIS prevalence among severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-infected patients. TTS is very uncommonly reported in patients with AIS following COVID-19 vaccination.

Therapeutic Trends of Cerebrovascular Disease during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Future Perspectives

As of May 2022, there have been more than 400 million cases (including re-infections) of the systemic acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and nearly 5 million deaths worldwide. Not only has the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic been responsible for diagnosis and treatment delays of a wide variety of conditions, and overwhelmed the allocation of healthcare resources, it has impacted the epidemiology and management of cerebrovascular disease. In this narrative review, we summarize the changing paradigms and latest data regarding the complex relationship between COVID-19 and cerebrovascular disease. Paradoxically, although SARS-CoV-2 has been associated with many thrombotic complications—including ischemic stroke—there have been global declines in ischemic stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases. These epidemiologic shifts may be attributed to patient avoidance of healthcare institutions due to fear of contracting the novel human coronavirus, and also related to declines in other transmissible infectious illnesses which may trigger ischemic stroke. Despite the association between SARS-CoV-2 and thrombotic events, there are inconsistent data regarding targeted antithrombotics to prevent venous and arterial events. In addition, we provide recommendations for the conduct of stroke research and clinical trial planning during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and for future healthcare crises.

Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis to Identify Potential Biological Processes and Key Genes in COVID-19-Related Stroke

The purpose of this research was to explore the underlying biological processes causing coronavirus disease 2019- (COVID-19-) related stroke. The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was utilized to obtain four COVID-19 datasets and two stroke datasets. Thereafter, we identified key modules via weighted gene co-expression network analysis, following which COVID-19- and stroke-related crucial modules were crossed to identify the common genes of COVID-19-related stroke. The common genes were intersected with the stroke-related hub genes screened via Cytoscape software to discover the critical genes associated with COVID-19-related stroke. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis for common genes associated with COVID-19-related stroke, and the Reactome database was used to annotate and visualize the pathways involved in the key genes. Two COVID-19-related crucial modules and one stroke-related crucial module were identified. Subsequently, the top five genes were screened as hub genes after visualizing the genes of stroke-related critical module using Cytoscape. By intersecting the COVID-19- and stroke-related crucial modules, 28 common genes for COVID-19-related stroke were identified. ITGA2B and ITGB3 have been further identified as crucial genes of COVID-19-related stroke. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that both ITGA2B and ITGB3 were involved in integrin signaling and the response to elevated platelet cytosolic Ca²⁺, thus regulating platelet activation, extracellular matrix- (ECM-) receptor interaction, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and hematopoietic cell lineage. Therefore, platelet activation, ECM-receptor interaction, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and hematopoietic cell lineage may represent the potential biological processes associated with COVID-19-related stroke, and ITGA2B and ITGB3 may be potential intervention targets for COVID-19-related stroke.

Mechanisms of Cardiovascular System Injury Induced by COVID-19 in Elderly Patients With Cardiovascular History

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), represents a great threat to healthcare and socioeconomics worldwide. In addition to respiratory manifestations, COVID-19 promotes cardiac injuries, particularly in elderly patients with cardiovascular history, leading to a higher risk of progression to critical conditions. The SARS-CoV-2 infection is initiated as virus binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is highly expressed in the heart, resulting in direct infection and dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Meanwhile, immune response and hyper-inflammation, as well as endothelial dysfunction and thrombosis implicate in COVID-19 infection. Herein, we provide an overview of the proposed mechanisms of cardiovascular injuries in COVID-19, particularly in elderly patients with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases, aiming to set appropriate management and improve their clinical outcomes.