COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CLINICAL AND FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES OF ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE IN POST-COVID-19 PATIENTS

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new challenges in cerebrovascular health, with increasing reports of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) occurring in patients who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics and long-term functional outcomes of AIS in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) compared to stroke patients without prior COVID19 infection. We conducted a comparative observational study including adult patients diagnosed with AIS between January 2021 and December 2023. Clinical features, stroke severity, imaging findings, comorbidities, and laboratory parameters were recorded. Functional outcomes were assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3, 6, and 12 months post-stroke. Our findings indicate that patients with PCS had higher rates of atypical presentations, greater stroke severity, and a prolonged recovery trajectory compared to non-COVID-19 AIS patients. Long-term functional outcomes were significantly worse in the PCS group, with a higher proportion of patients experiencing persistent disability. These results underscore the need for tailored post-stroke management strategies and rehabilitation programs for patients recovering from COVID-19. Future research should focus on elucidating the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms linking SARS-CoV-2 infection with cerebrovascular vulnerability.