Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Prognosis and Emergency Treatment of Patients with Ischemic Stroke in Suzhou, China: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Authors

Guo Zhou, Rongguang Ge, Rui Wang, Jiaping Xu, Qin Fu, Shoujiang You, Yongjun Cao

Published in

Current neurovascular research. Oct 07, 2026. Epub Oct 07, 2026.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted stroke care globally. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the clinical characteristics, acute treatment, and outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in Suzhou, China.
This study retrospectively analyzed 506 hospitalized AIS patients from four stroke centers between December 10, 2022, and January 20, 2023. Patients were grouped by COVID- 19 infection status and timing. Clinical data and outcomes were compared with a pre-pandemic cohort from the SUMMITS-II Study.
Among included AIS patients, 54.3% were COVID-19-positive. Infected patients had higher baseline NIHSS scores, elevated inflammatory markers, and more in-hospital complications. Intravenous thrombolysis rates increased slightly during the pandemic, despite longer prehospital delays. Emotional disorders were more frequent post-stroke. COVID-19 infection, particularly concurrent with stroke onset, was linked to worse outcomes at 90 days and 1 year.
The findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke in Suzhou. Patients with AIS with concomitant COVID-19 infection presented with a higher prevalence of vascular risk factors and elevated inflammatory and coagulation markers. Moreover, COVID-19 infection occurring within one week of stroke onset was associated with more severe neurological deficits and poorer short- and long-term prognosis, highlighting the potential role of COVID-19 in worsening stroke outcomes.
The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected stroke severity and prognosis. While in-hospital workflows were preserved, delayed presentation and increased systemic burden contributed to unfavorable stroke outcomes. Strengthening stroke care delivery and psychological support during public health crises is essential.

PMID:
42865192
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 13 Oct 2026.

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