COVID-19 patients with underlying conditions are at a greater risk of suffering a stroke leading to death, a Bahraini medic has said.
BDF hospital Neurology chief resident Dr Abdulla Ali Khaled made the observation following a case study.
Six Covid-19 patients aged above 70 years and with comorbidities were admitted to the BDF hospital’s field intensive care unit and four of them died, he pointed out, adding that it was evidence of the virus triggering the onset of cerebrovascular disease.
He highlighted the importance of training and awareness amongst emergency physicians, who can spot warning signs of stroke early and help prevent mortalities.
Conference
Dr Khaled was speaking at the second Bahrain Emergency Medicine Conference (BEMC) 2021.
The study – titled ‘Covid-19 related stroke in patients on anticoagulants – was based on retrospective data from the BDF hospital records.
The six male patients were diagnosed with Covid-19 following polymerase chain reaction (PCR) nasopharyngeal swab tests and were administered medicines to prevent blood clots (anticoagulants).
“They still developed cerebrovascular disease and radiological imaging was done to confirm stroke,” Dr Khaled said.
“This indicates that Covid-19 is a significant risk factor for stroke, especially in severe cases with comorbidities.
“Physicians should be aware of the relationship between Covid-19 and stroke to prevent delayed diagnosis and decrease the rate of mortality.”
He further explained that five of the patients developed ischemic stroke (when a blood clot blocks or narrows an artery leading to the brain) while one suffered intracerebral haemorrhage (bleeding in brain).
“Four of them died, which is a significant number,” he said.
“They were all aged 70 and above and had underlying conditions – especially hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and a previous medical history of ischemic heart disease.
“During admission, all of them presented with severe Covid-19 infection and developed stroke in less than 10 days.”
The patients’ vaccination status was, however, not revealed.
During the early days of the pandemic, the world thought that Covid-19 was a pulmonary disease that caused respiratory distress syndrome, mostly in male elderly patients with comorbidities. However, further investigations revealed neurological complications.
US-based CDC had come up with studies last September on how Covid-19 could increase the risk of strokes. It listed symptoms of moderate to severe Covid-19 – inflammation, poor organ function as well as development of blood clots, which could subsequently lead to heart attack and stroke.
More than 100 expert speakers took part in the three-day virtual conference, at the Crown Prince Centre for Training and Medical Research, Riffa.
The event, held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, concluded yesterday.
According to reports, sepsis or body’s extreme reaction to infection and coagulopathy (stoppage of blood flow resulting in excessive bleeding or clotting) could lead to the coronavirus binding to angiotensin (protein hormones converting enzyme) in the brain. This may result in tightening of muscles around blood vessels leading to tissue injury or stroke.
raji@gdn.com.bh