Ischemic stroke associated with COVID-19 and racial outcome disparity in North America

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Underlying biological, genetic, or epigenetic characteristics may predispose to health differences and outcomes with COVID-19 associated stroke. Social determinants of health, access and geographical differences pertaining both to population density and other location-based factors may also be important. Methods: We report 69 cases of acute stroke in patients positive for SARS-CoV-2, in a dichotomized analysis of ischemic stroke outcomes between patients of African American background versus all other backgrounds. All patients presented to 14 major hospitals in the United States and Canada, from March 14-April 14, 2020. All patients had nasopharyngeal swab samples that were positive for SARS-CoV-2 on qualitative RT-PCR assays. Results: We found no significant difference in age (64.4 versus 62.9 years) or the proportion of females (51.9% versus 38.1%) (table 1). Diabetes mellitus was present significantly less in African American cases versus others (37% vs. 66.7%). The African American cohort had a similar mean NIHSS score of 16.3 compared with 14.9 in other races (p=0.63). The door-to-CT time was also similar (23 versus 19 minutes). The proportion of patients presenting with a large vessel occlusion was not significantly different (40.7% versus 47%). We noted 14.8% of African American cases received intravenous tPA compared to 31% in other races but was not significantly different. The proportion of thrombectomy cases mirrored this (14.8% versus 31%). Regarding stroke functional outcomes, there was no difference between African Americans and other races with respect to discharge mRS or proportion of favorable outcome (mRS 0-2). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) was significantly higher for African Americans (11.1% versus 3%, p<0.001).Mortality was significantly higher in African Americans compared to other races (51.9% vs. 28.6%,p=0.03). Discussion: The reasons for increased mortality in African Americans with COVID-19-associatedstroke are unknown. The finding in this study that mortality rate of COVID-19 positive stroke patientsis greater than that previously reported in either COVID-19 respiratory infection alone or acuteischemic stroke alone, suggests an interaction that also warrants further study.