COVID-19 Associated Cerebral Microbleeds in the General Population

• DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4375623
• Publication Date: 2023-03-06T16:54:50Z
• Authors: Neus Rodeja Ferrer; Malini Vendela S...; Mostafa Mehdipou...; Kiril Vadimovic ...; Espen Jimenez-Solem; Mads Nielsen; Christina Kruuse
• Keywords: 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak; Betacoronavirus

Background: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are frequent incidental findings on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and have previously been shown to occur in COVID-19 cohorts of critically ill patients. We aimed determine the risk having medically indicated MRI compare non-hospitalized infected patients with non-infected controls.Methods: this retrospective case-control study, we included over 18 years age, an a susceptibility-weighted sequence, between January 1, 2019, July 2021. Cases were identified based positive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test for SARS-CoV-2, matched three non-exposed controls, sex, body mass index, comorbidities. The number CMBs each scan was determined using artificial intelligence.Findings: 73 cases 219 controls. associated significantly greater odds MRI; OR 2·66 (1·23 – 5·76, 95% confidence interval), increasingly so when dementia hospitalized excluded.Interpretation: Our indicate that may be infections. This finding add pathophysiological considerations help explain subjects previous COVID-19.Funding: project has received funding from VELUX FONDEN Innovation Fund Denmark under grant 1063-00014B, Pioneer Centre AI, Danish National Research Foundation, P1.Declaration Interest: CK, MVS, NRF, KVK, MMG MN all support Denmark, MVS also Herlev Gentofte Hospital’s internal research fund. CK compensated as PI Bayer Bristol Myers Squibb International Corporation. declared grants Novo Nordisk Finish Academy Science TU Munich, holds stock Cerebriu A/S, Biomediq Alomic Aps. EJS supported by Eli Lilly, Jonson & Johnson, UCB, Gilead, Novartis Vertex Pharmaceuticals. KVK NRF University Copenhagen. is FONDEN, AI Foundation.Ethical Approval: All methods carried out accordance relevant guidelines regulations. study approved legal ethics boards, including Patient Safety Authority (Styrelsen Patientsikkerhed, approval #31-1521-257) Data Protection Agency (Datatilsynet, #P-2020-320).