The risk of a stroke due to SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection in people over 65 is highest in the first three days after receiving a positive test result, researchers from the CDC found. The results of the study will be presented at the International Stroke Conference of the American Stroke Society in New Orleans.
"Stroke is a possible complication following a COVID-19 diagnosis, and doctors and patients should be aware of this. Vaccination against COVID-19 and other preventive measures are important to reduce the risk of infection and complications, including stroke, ”commented lead author Dr. Quanhe Yang of the US CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - in Atlanta.
The research team assessed the risk of an ischemic stroke, caused by a blockage of an artery that supplies the brain, among 37,379 users of the U.S. he alth insurance program Medicare, age 65 or older, diagnosed with COVID-19. The diagnosis was made between April 1, 2022 and February 28, 2022.
As much as 75 percent The group was white, with no Hispanic roots.
Researchers compared the risk of stroke in the days immediately before and after the diagnosis of COVID-19 to the risk on other days, i.e. more than seven days before diagnosis and more than 28 days after diagnosis (during the follow-up period).
They determined that the highest risk of stroke was in the first three days after testing positive for COVID-19. During this period, the risk of stroke was 10 times higher than in the control period.
After the first three days of diagnosis, the risk of stroke decreased, but was still high compared to the control period. Between days four and seven after diagnosis, the risk of stroke was 60 percent higher, and between days eight and 14, it was rated 44 percent higher. On the other hand, on days 15-28 after diagnosis, the risk of stroke increased by only 9%. compared to the control period.
Importantly, younger people in the study group, i.e. people aged 65-74 years, were more likely to have a stroke after being diagnosed with COVID-19 than people aged 85 and older.
Scientists found no differences in risk related to gender, race, or ethnicity.
Researchers remind you that a stroke is a life-threatening condition. Timely diagnosis of stroke and treatment are essential to prevent widespread brain damage and death.
The authors of the study also emphasize that it had several limitations - most notably such that the exact date of COVID-19 onset of people whose data was analyzed in this paper may be inaccurate, among other things because at the beginning of the pandemic there were shortage of tests for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection.