Etiologic Subtypes of Ischemic Stroke in SARS-COV-2 Virus patients in a cohort of New York City hospitals

Objective To describe the ischemic stroke subtypes related to COVID-19 in a cohort of NYC hospitals and explore their etiopathogenesis. Background Extra-pulmonary involvement of COVID-19 has been reported in the hepatic, renal and hematological systems. Most neurological manifestations are non-focal, but few have reported the characteristics of ischemic strokes or investigated its pathophysiology. Methods Data were collected prospectively from March 15 to April 15, 2020 from four centers in New York City to review possible ischemic stroke types seen in COVID-19 positive patients. Patient presentation, demographics, other related vascular risk factors, associated laboratory and coagulation markers, as well as imaging and outcomes for consecutive stroke patients positive for SARS-COV2 infection over the period studied were collected. Results In our study, the age range of patients was 25-75 with no significant male preponderance. The median age of LVO patients was 48. Stroke was the presenting and hospitalizing event in 70%. One fifth of patients did not have common risk factors for ischemic stroke and none had atrial fibrillation, coronary or cerebrovascular disease, or were smokers. Half had a poor outcome with 40% ending in mortality (60% in LVO group) and one in a critical condition due ARDS. All had high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio except one who demonstrated some neurological recovery. D-dimer levels showed mild to severe elevation when collected. None of the LVO cases had known cardiac risk factors but two out of five were found to have cardiac abnormalities during their hospitalization. All LVOs had hypercoagulable lab markers especially elevated D-dimer and/or fibrinogen. The LVO patients were younger and sicker with a median age of 46 and mean NIHSS of 24 as opposed to non-LVOs with a median age of 62 and mean NIHSS of 6 respectively. Conclusion COVID-19 related ischemic events can be small vessel, branch emboli or large vessel occlusions. The latter is often associated with either a hypercoagulable state or cardio-embolism. Patient outcomes were worse when multi-organ or pulmonary system failure prevailed. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement no funding ### Author Declarations All relevant ethical guidelines have been followed; any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained and details of the IRB/oversight body are included in the manuscript. Yes All necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes all data owned by authors and can be shared upon appropriate request via correspondent author