Thirty-Day Case Fatality of Stroke at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: There is some evidence that the case fatality rate of stroke has declined in recent years, although it is not certain that this reduction has been caused by changes in stroke management. There has been no recent review of the case fatality rate of stroke at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital [LUTH].
Objective: To determine the 30-day case fatality rate of stroke at LUTH over the five-year period of 1995 to 1999.
Materials and Methods: The medical records of stroke patients admitted to the teaching hospital from January 1995 to December 1999 were retrospectively reviewed, and information obtained on the number of stroke patients admitted during this period and the number that died within 30days of stroke. The 30-day case fatality rate of stroke at the hospital for this period was determined.
Results: A total of 715 stroke patients were admitted during this period: 18 were discharged against medical advice and 287 died within 30days of onset of their stroke, giving a 30-day case fatality rate of 41.2%.
Conclusion: The 30-day case fatality rate of stroke at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital has improved over the years, but is still considerably higher than the 30-day case fatality rates of stroke in Europe and North America.
There is the need for a stroke unit in the hospital to improve the management of stroke patients.


NQJHM Vol. 14 (1) 2004: pp. 64-66