COVID-19 in patients with dementia : Clinical features and predictive factors of mortality in a cohort of 125 patients

Background and aims: Mounting data has been published as to the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on cerebrovascular events, particularly on ischemic strokes. Our study addresses the clinical course of patients with cerebral haemorrhage and simultaneous SARS-CoV-2 infection, paying particular attention to both SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative patients hospitalized during the pandemic. Methods: The Italian Society of Hospital Neurosciences (SNO) promoted a multicentre, retrospective, observational study (SNO-COVID-19), involving 20 Neurology Units in Northern Italy. Data were collected on patients consecutively admitted to neurological departments, from March 1st to April 30th with cerebrovascular diseases, occurring either at home or during hospitalization for other causes. Results: 949 patients were enrolled (average age 73.4 years;52.7% males);135 patients had haemorrhagic stroke and 127 (13.4%) had a primary ICH. Only 16 patients with ICH (12.6%) had laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, clinically expressed or not. SARS-CoV-2 related pneumonia or respiratory distress, lobar location and previous antiplatelet or anticoagulant treatment were the only factors significantly associated with increased mortality in ICH. SARS-CoV-2 infection, regardless of respiratory involvement, led to a nonsignificantly increased risk of in-hospital death. Conclusion: Our study confirms that age, ICH location and previous antiplatelet or anticoagulant treatment are predictors of in-hospital death. Unlike ischemic stroke, ICH in SARS-CoV-2 patients led only to a slight increase in mortality, mainly due to respiratory involvement.