Is there a link between Covid-19 and stroke risk?
The Philippine Corona Study, which is a retrospective study of neurological symptoms and associated manifestations of Covid-19 outcomes of 10,881 patients, indicated that 26 percent of the patients suffered from neurologic symptoms—headache with 6 percent, altered smell/can’t smell —5 percent, altered sensorium—4.4 percent, altered taste—3 percent, and muscle pains—2.3 percent.
According to Dr, Maria Epifania Collantes of the Stroke Society of the Philippines, the study also showed that the most common neurological complication is Stroke with 3.37 percent and Encephalopathy (damage or disease that affects the brain) at 5.72 percent.
A total of 37 hospital sites from various regions were involved in the nationwide comparative, retrospective, cohort study among adult, hospitalized Covid- 19 patients.
During the “Media Round Table: The Link between Stroke and Covid-19,” Dr. Collantes said that the study suggests that stroke mortality of patients who caught Covid-19 is high at 59 percent and that 42 percent with mild Covid infection still suffered from stroke while 29 percent with severe Covid cases had stroke.
The retrospective study on Covid-19 patients who had stroke as a complication or a presenting sign of the virus was conducted between March 30 to October 20, 2020. Of the total number, 2,018 patients with Covid-19 infection from Philippine General Hospital were part of the study population.
Forty-one out of the 2,018 patients (2 percent) developed acute stroke. The mean age of patients was 59 years old.
Understanding Stroke
Stroke happens when the blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off.The brain cells are deprived of oxygen and brain cells begin to die. When this happens, the abilities that are controlled by those areas in the brain lose their function.
There are two main types of stroke—ischemic stroke where a blockage develops in the brain’s blood supply (accounts for about 80% of all strokes); and hemorrhagic where a leak or rupture in a blood vessel in the brain develops.
Risk factors associated with a higher risk for stroke include males; people aged 55 or older; lifestyle (being overweight or inactive, cigarette smoking, heavy drinking) and medical (high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, history of cardiovascular diseases
Signs of Stroke
Signs you are suffering from a stroke is best represented with “BE FAST” where B stands for Balance difficulty; E-eye changes; F-Face drooping, crooked smile; A-Arm weak or numb; S- Slurred speech; and T-Time to call an ambulance/go to the hospital.
“When experiencing even the mildest symptoms of stroke, every second that goes by is crucial and there is a need for timely access to medical emergency care,” she said as she emphasized the need to remember the “Golden Hour” as time is of essence.
Immediate treatment of a stroke can minimize the long-term effects and help reduce the risk of death from stroke.
“This is particularly critical for ischemic stroke, where the treatment is only effective within 4.5 hours of the onset of symptoms,” Dr. Collantes said stressing that outcomes are the most optimal when patients receive treatment within 60 minutes following the onset of stroke symptoms. This window is known as the “Golden Hour.”
The Burden of Stroke
There are 17 million people worldwide who suffer a stroke every year, 1/3 of the 17 million die as a result while another third is left permanently disabled.
From 2009 to 2019, stroke has been identified as the second leading cause of death and one of the top five leading causes of disability in the Philippines.
Cerebrovascular diseases—under which stroke falls—was the third leading cause of death in 2020 according to the Philippine Statistics Authority report.
Occtober 29 is World Stroke Day. Established by the World Stroke Organization, and supported locally by Angels Initiative together with the Stroke Society of the Philippines, World Stroke Day aims to increase awareness about the signs and symptoms of stroke, improve stroke prevention, and have access to quality stroke treatment.
This year’s theme of #PreciousTime reiterates the message that stroke is a medical emergency. When experiencing even the mildest symptoms of stroke, every second that goes by is crucial and there is a need for timely access to medical emergency care.