Dyslipidaemia as a risk factor in the occurrence of stroke in Nigeria: prevalence and patterns

Abstract

Introduction: stroke is a major public health problem worldwide. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia and smoking are some of the common modifiable risk factors in the occurrence of stroke. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the prevalence and patterns of dyslipidaemia among individuals with acute stroke. Methods: this is a retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study, carried out in the Departments of Medicine at the LAUTECH Teaching hospital, Ogbomoso and General Hospital, Orile-Agege, Lagos, South-West, Nigeria, over a 18-month period between September 2012 and February 2014. One hundred and six (106) patients with acute stroke confirmed with computed tomography (CT) brain scan were recruited. Clinical features, risk factors, lipid profiles and stroke patterns were identified. Results: mean age was significantly higher in ischaemiac stroke compared to haemorrhagic (64.08±10.87 Vs, 56.21±12.38years, p=0.001). There was slight male preponderance in both stroke types (1.3:1). Out of 106 patients, 65 (61.3%) had ischaemic stroke, 38 (35.8%) haemorrhagic and 3 (2.9%) with subarachnoid haemorrhage. Dyslipidaemia is the most frequent risk factor (85.9%), followed by hypertension (66.0%) and diabetes mellitus (15.1%). Dyslipidaemia was significantly higher in the ischaemic stroke compared to haemorrhagic. Reduced HDL-cholesterol is the most prevalent fraction of lipid abnormalities (74.5%). Conclusion: this study showed a significant association (85.9%) between dyslipidaemia and stroke. Our study showed low HDL-C as a potential risk factor for stroke. Hence, prevention of dyslipidaemia as well as other risk factors is the key to reducing the burden of stroke in our country.

The Pan African Medical Journal 2016;25