Comparative Study of Head CT Scan Results in Stroke Cases During the Pre-Pandemic, Pandemic and Post-Pandemic of COVID-19

Abstract

Backgrounds: Stroke was the second-leading cause of death worldwide in 2019, with ischemic stroke being the most common type. In 2019, there were 77.19 million people globally who experienced ischemic stroke, with 63.48 million experiencing disability and 3.29 million experiencing death. It has been discovered that Covid-19 can increase the risk of stroke, with 1-6% of Covid-19 patients being diagnosed with stroke and a mortality rate of 30-40%. A head CT scan is a primary diagnostic tool for diagnosing stroke. As a result, researchers are interested in conducting a study to compare CT scan images of stroke patients before the pandemic, during the pandemic, and after the pandemic, both with and without COVID-19.Objectives: This study aims to compare stroke patients' CT scan images pre-pandemic, during the pandemic and postpandemic (with and without COVID-19) to identify any differences. Method: The data was collected retrospectively by examining the medical records of stroke patients and their CT scan data at the Radiology Department of Airlangga University. The patients were selected from three periods: pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic. Patients were grouped into two categories during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods -stroke with and without COVID-19 -based on their PCR results. The comparison of CT scan images of the head was then conducted during these three periods. Results: From the results of head CT scans in the stroke group during the pre-pandemic, pandemic and post-pandemic periods both with and without Covid-19 and the stroke group with Covid-19, the highest number was small vessel ischemic stroke (63.1-67.8%), followed by large vessel ischemic stroke (7.5-23.1%) and bleeding stroke (0-20.6%) (P-value > 0.05), as well as the distribution of ischemic stroke in small vessels and large vessels, there is no significant difference statistically significant CT scan images of stroke patients in the post-pandemic period both without and with COVID-19. Conclusion:From the results of head CT scans in the stroke group during the pre-pandemic, pandemic and post-pandemic periods, both with and without COVID-19, and in the stroke group with COVID-19, there were no significant differences.