Sign in Subscribe
COVID-19

Prior Vaccination Against COVID-19 Associated with Reduced Mortality and Complications in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Research conducted at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) College of Medicine has found that prior vaccination against COVID-19 is associated with reduced rates of all-cause mortality, intracranial hemorrhage, venous thromboembolism, and acute myocardial infarction within 30 days of COVID-19 associated acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The study used the TriNetX COVID-19 Research Network to identify AIS cases admitted between April 1, 2021, and September 30, 2022, that had a COVID-19 diagnosis up to 30 days before hospitalization.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study identified 3,573 vaccinated and 46,329 unvaccinated patients who met the study criteria, with 3,569 patients remaining in both groups after propensity score matching.
  • Vaccinated individuals had significantly lower rates of all-cause mortality (7 days: 3.3% vs 5.0%; HR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.52-0.83 and 30 days: 8.2% vs 9.5%; HR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.71-0.97).
  • Vaccinated individuals also had lower rates of intracranial hemorrhage (7 days: 4.1% vs 6.2%; HR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.53-0.82 and 30 days: 4.5% vs 6.7%; HR = 0.66; 95%CI = 0.53-0.81).
  • The study concluded that prior vaccination against COVID-19 is associated with reduced rates of all-cause mortality, intracranial hemorrhage, venous thromboembolism, and acute myocardial infarction within 30 days of COVID-19 associated AIS.
  • The study used the TriNetX COVID-19 Research Network, an international electronic health record database, to identify AIS cases.
  • The study included patients from the United States, with a mean age of 71 +/- 12 years for vaccinated patients and 65 +/- 15 years for unvaccinated patients.
  • The study was conducted by researchers from Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, with additional authors including Nader El Seblani, Raymond K. Reichwein, Maria P. Gorenflo, Rong Xu, and Santiago Ortega-Gutierrez.

Statistics:

  • 3,573 vaccinated patients and 46,329 unvaccinated patients met the study criteria.
  • 3,569 patients remained in both groups after propensity score matching.
  • Vaccinated individuals had a 7-day all-cause mortality rate of 3.3% compared to 5.0% for unvaccinated individuals (HR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.52-0.83).
  • Vaccinated individuals had a 30-day all-cause mortality rate of 8.2% compared to 9.5% for unvaccinated individuals (HR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.71-0.97).
  • Vaccinated individuals had a 7-day intracranial hemorrhage rate of 4.1% compared to 6.2% for unvaccinated individuals (HR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.53-0.82).
  • Vaccinated individuals had a 30-day intracranial hemorrhage rate of 4.5% compared to 6.7% for unvaccinated individuals (HR = 0.66; 95%CI = 0.53-0.81).

Sources:

  • Vaccination Against Covid-19 and Outcomes In Patients With Covid-19 Infection and Stroke. npj Vaccines, 2025;10(1).
  • NewsRx. Research Conducted at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) College of Medicine Has Updated Our Knowledge about COVID-19 (Vaccination Against Covid-19 and Outcomes In Patients With Covid-19 Infection and Stroke). Hematology Week. July 28, 2025; p 127.

Read more