Plasma electrolytes, osmolality and lipid profile in patients with acute stroke in a tertiary hospital in South-South, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction stroke or cerebrovascular accident is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Electrolyte imbalances and dyslipidemia cause poor patients' treatment outcomes.

Aim of the study wasto evaluate Plasma electrolytes, osmolality and lipid profile in stroke patients.

Materials and Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted between May 2022 to October 2022, on 144 stroke patients seen in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. serum electrolytes, Osmolality and lipid profile were assayed. statistical analysis was done using sPss version 22. Level of significance established at p ≤ 0.05

Result: 69.5% of the subjects had ischemic stroke, 30.5% had hemorrhagic stroke. 45.1% of the subjects had hyponatremia and hypo-osmolality, 49% had hypokalaemia, 21.5% had metabolic acidosis and 6% hypochloraemia. Majority of the subjects (98%-99.3%) had normal lipid profile. No statistically significant difference between the electrolyte results of both ischaemic and hemorrhagic stroke.

Conclusion: Electrolyte derangements are common in patients with stroke. Hypokalaemia was the commonest observed, closely followed by hyponatremia and hypo-osmolality in this study. Electrolyte derangements in stroke patients should be promptly corrected and plasma levels monitored to reduce morbidity and mortality.