The alarming link between the COVID-19 pandemic and stroke: why ignoring this association after relapse of the disease has dangerous consequences

Nader Aghakhani; Roya Naderi

doi:10.1515/jbcpp-2024-0179

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The alarming link between the COVID-19 pandemic and stroke: why ignoring this association after relapse of the disease has dangerous consequences

Nader Aghakhani and Roya Naderi

Published/Copyright: October 28, 2024

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From the journal Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology Volume 35 Issue 6

Keywords: COVID-19; stroke; patients

The COVID-19 pandemic, first identified in December 2019, has rapidly spread worldwide infecting millions and causing a range of symptoms. One significant concern is that it may increase the risk of severe strokes in individuals with preexisting cardiovascular disease, leading to longer hospital stay and poorer outcomes compared to other stroke patients. This leads to a higher risk of severe stroke and poorer outcomes compared to other stroke patients. Most concerning is the fact that COVID-19 positive stroke patients tend to have a longer hospital stay and require intensive care unit care, experience a greater rate of neurological deterioration during their admission, and are at a higher risk of death while in the hospital compared to other stroke patients [1].

The pandemic has disrupted stroke care and neurology on a global scale, affecting the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. This issue can lead to clots and strokes, especially in patients with severe respiratory symptoms. Young and middle-aged adults without typical stroke risk factors have also experienced strokes due to the virus. The exact mechanism is still unclear, but it is believed that COVID-19 causes a hypercoagulable state and triggers an immune response that damages blood vessels and increases the risk of stroke [2, 3].

COVID-19-associated stroke has worse outcomes and higher mortality rates compared to other strokes. The understanding of imaging findings, the clinical profile, and outcomes of strokes related to COVID- 19 is still developing. Strategies to reduce risk include identifying and treating preexisting cardiovascular disease, monitoring COVID-19 patients for stroke, and using preventive therapies when needed. Public health measures like social distancing, mask-wearing, and vaccination can help prevent both COVID-19 and stroke. Improving transparency and instilling confidence in healthcare institutions can help alleviate fear-driven actions during public health crises. Therefore, it is crucial to seek prompt acute stroke care, regardless of the severity of symptoms [4, 5].

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk of severe strokes in individuals with preexisting cardiovascular disease, leading to worse outcomes. COVID-19 positive stroke patients require longer hospital stays, ICU care, and are at higher risk of mortality. The virus disrupts stroke care globally and can cause strokes in patients with severe respiratory symptoms and even in young adults without typical risk factors. Strategies to reduce risk include treating preexisting cardiovascular disease, monitoring COVID-19 patients for stroke, and using preventive therapies. Public health measures like social distancing, mask-wearing, and vaccination can help prevent both COVID-19 and stroke. Seeking prompt acute stroke care, regardless of symptom severity, is crucial.

Corresponding author: Roya Naderi, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; and Nephrology and Kidney Transplant Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran, E-mail: naderi.r@umsu.ac.ir

Research ethics: Not applicable.
Informed consent: Not applicable.
Author contributions: Nader Aghakhani: Conceptualization, Supervision, Writing – original draft. Roya Naderi: Conceptualization, Writing – review & editing.
Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
Conflict of interest: The author states no conflict of interest.
Research funding: None declared.
Data availability: Not applicable.

References

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Received: 2024-09-28

Accepted: 2024-10-13

Published Online: 2024-10-28

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2024-0179

Keywords for this article

COVID-19; stroke; patients