Publication:

A study of stroke patients with respect to their clinical and demographic profile and outcome

Background The incidence of cerebrovascular diseases increases with age and the number of strokes is projected to increase as the elderly population grows, with an effect of doubling in stroke deaths in the United States by 2030. This study was done to know the clinical demographic profiles and outcome of the patients presented with stroke in a tertiary care centre.

Methods 501 patients of stroke were included this study. Detailed history, physical examination and relevant systemic examination including detailed examination of neurological system were performed and necessary lab investigations were done.

Results Among 501 stroke patients 90 (18%) patients were of young and 236 (47.1%) of elderly (>60years). Among them 435 (86.8%) were hypertensive and 130 (25.9%) had H/O diabetes and 160(75.83%) had dyslipidemia. In CT scan or MRI of brain, 125 (25%) had lacunar infarction, 76 (15.1%) had non-lacunar infarction, 180 (35.9%) had parenchymal hemorrhage with no ventricular extension and 120 (24%) had parenchymal hemorrhage with ventricular extension. All patients who expired (n=95) presented with poor GCS (≤8) on admission regardless of the stroke subtypes. Among all lacunar infarctions, 92% occurred in hypertensive individuals and among all hemorrhagic strokes, 93.33% occurred in hypertensive patients. Non-lacunar infarction is the most common type of stroke among non-hypertensives (54.55%). And infarction is the most common type of stroke events in diabetics.

Conclusions Stroke can occur at any age, but the elderly persons are more commonly affected with a slight predilection to male. The hemorrhagic stroke outnumbers the ischemic stroke mainly because of uncontrolled hypertension. The GCS at presentation can predict the stroke outcome. Risk factors of stroke include Hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol and Diabetes, obesity, lack of exercise, and genetic factors.