Abstract

Patients with stroke are at increased risk of poor outcomes of COVID-19, yet data on prognostic factors of COVID-19 mortality in this population remained limited. In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, we investigated the clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and pre-existing stroke and assessed the risk factors for in-hospital mortality. Patients with COVID-19 and a history of stroke between January 1 and September 30, 2022, were included. Clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records. Univariate
and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the risk factors for in-hospital mortality. This study included 282 patients, comprising 57 (20.2%) who died (nonsurvivors) and 225 (79.8%) survivors. Multivariable analyses indicated that higher in-hospital mortality was associated with advanced age (>80 years; odds ratio [OR]: 3.46; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.70-7.03), residence in a long-term care facility (OR: 2.60; 95% CI: 1.70-5.70), a higher baseline modified Ranking scale score (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.07-2.19), lymphopenia (OR: 3.12; 95% CI: 1.53-6.35), and elevated serum creatinine (OR: 3.86; 95% CI: 1.80-8.26) in patients with COVID-19 and pre-existing stroke.

Keywords: COVID-19; Mortality; Stroke; Risk factors