COVID-19 diagnosis, not pandemic era, linked to 2.74-fold higher ischemic stroke inpatient mortality

COVID-19 diagnosis increased in-hospital mortality after ischemic stroke 2.74-fold (95% CI 2.42–3.11), while broad pandemic timing showed no independent association; machine-learning models had modest prediction (AUC 0.62–0.64).

• Retrospective cohort of 517,750 weighted ischemic stroke hospitalizations from the 2019–2021 HCUP National Inpatient Sample.
• Mechanical thrombectomy rates were higher during the pandemic; thrombolysis rates were similar. The mortality association persisted after NIHSS adjustment in a coded subgroup.
• Key limitation: No patient-level viral variant data; admission-time ML models had limited discrimination and were not externally validated.

RadPigeon summaries are original and for information only. They are not clinical advice.