Moreover, stroke-like episodes were a significant predictor of early death in both m.3243A>G (HR 12.3, 95% CI 5.8–26.5, P < 0.001; Supplementary Table 8) and POLG (HR 11.6, 95% CI 4.7–28.2, P < 0.001) patients (Fig. 2). This evidence concerns the gene POLG and stroke disorder.