The association between stroke and COVID-19-related mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis based on adjusted effect estimates

Objective To investigate the association between stroke and the risk for mortality among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Methods We performed systematic searches through electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify potential articles reporting adjusted effect estimates on the association of stroke with COVID-19-related mortality. To estimate pooled effects, the random-effects model was applied. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were performed to explore the possible sources of heterogeneity. The stability of the results was assessed by sensitivity analysis. Publication bias was evaluated by Begg’s test and Egger’s test. Results This meta-analysis included 47 studies involving 7,267,055 patients. The stroke was associated with higher COVID-19 mortality (pooled effect = 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16–1.44; I 2 = 89%, P < 0.01; random-effects model). Subgroup analyses yielded consistent results among area, age, proportion of males, setting, cases, effect type, and proportion of severe COVID-19 cases. Statistical heterogeneity might result from the different effect type according to the meta-regression ( P = 0.0105). Sensitivity analysis suggested that our results were stable and robust. Both Begg’s test and Egger’s test indicated that potential publication bias did not exist. Conclusion Stroke was independently associated with a significantly increased risk for mortality in COVID-19 patients.