Introduction There has been limited evidence on the influence of racial background in stroke outcomes in COVID-19. Underlying biological, genetic, or epigenetic characteristics may predispose to health differences and outcomes. Social determinants of health, access and geographical differences pertaining both to population density and other location-based factors may also be important.

Methods We report 69 cases of acute stroke in patients positive for SARS-CoV-2, including 27 of African American background and 42 of other racial backgrounds, including Caucasian, Hispanic, and Asian. All patients presented to 14 major hospitals in the United States and Canada, from March 14-April 14, 2020. All patients had nasopharyngeal swab samples that were positive for SARS-CoV-2 on qualitative RT-PCR assays. We present a dichotomized analysis of ischemic stroke outcomes between patients of African American background as reported on hospital intake questionnaire versus all other backgrounds.

Results Comparison between Caucasian, Hispanic and Asian backgrounds did not show disparities in stroke outcomes. We found no significant difference in age (64.4 versus 62.9 years) or the proportion of females (51.9% versus 38.1%) (table 1). Diabetes mellitus was present significantly less in African American cases versus others (37% vs. 66.7%). No significant difference between groups was found regarding other comorbidities including smoking, atrial fibrillation, prior anticoagulation, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cerebrovascular accident, peripheral vascular disease, or chronic kidney disease. With respect to presenting SARS-CoV-2 symptoms, we found no difference in exposure history, asymptomatic cases, fever, cough, dyspnea, nausea or vomiting, chills, malaise, or lethargy. The African American cohort had a similar mean NIHSS score of 16.3 compared with 14.9 in other races (p=0.63). The door-to-CT time was also similar (23 versus 19 minutes). The proportion of patients presenting with a large vessel occlusion was not significantly different (40.7% versus 47%). We noted 14.8% of African American cases received intravenous tPA compared to 31% in other races, but this was not significantly different in this sample. The proportion of thrombectomy cases mirrored this (14.8% versus 31%). Laboratory findings were not significantly different between African Americans and all others. Regarding stroke functional outcomes, there was no difference between African Americans and other races in terms of discharge mRS (p=0.27). For mRS 0–2, there was no significant difference noted (14.8% versus 16.7%). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) was significantly higher for African Americans (11.1% versus 3%, p<0.001). Mortality was significantly higher in African Americans compared to other races (51.9% vs. 28.6%, p=0.03).

Discussion Our preliminary data suggest that there may be a mortality difference amongst stroke patients of African American background afflicted with COVID-19. The reasons for increased mortality in African Americans with COVID-19-associated stroke are unknown. Racial disparities in case counts and outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic have been highlighted, particularly regarding African American communities. In addition, the finding in this study that mortality rate of COVID-19 positive stroke patients is greater than that previously reported in either COVID-19 respiratory infection alone or acute ischemic stroke alone, suggests an interaction that also warrants further study.

Disclosures A. Dmytriw: None. K. Phan: None. C. Schirmer: None. F. Settecase: None. M. Heran: None. A. Efendizade: None. A. Kuhn: None. A. Puri: None. B. Menon: None. M. Dibas: None. S. Sivakumar: None. A. Mowla: None. L. Leung: None. A. Malek: None. B. Voetsch: None. S. Segal: None. A. Wakhloo: None. H. Wu: None. A. Xavier: None. A. Tiwari: None.