Clinical pattern of stroke in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital - a prospective study

Abstract

Background: Stroke has been identified as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the African.

Aim: To determine the hospital frequency of stroke, identify associated risk factors, find out the  diurnal variation (if any), and access the morbidity and mortality pattern of stroke at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).

Methods: A prospective study of patients admitted with stroke in the medical wards of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) from 1st  January 1996 to 30th  June 1997 within 14 days of onset was done. Data extracted via an interviewer structured questionnaire included age, sex, occupation, time and day of presentation, risk factors, stroke subtypes and outcome.

Results: There were 100 cases of stroke admitted over the period. This gave a stroke frequency of 0.95% of hospital admissions, 8.40% of medical admissions and 41.00% of neurological   admissions.   The   mean   age  of patients was 58.0 ± 14.6 years. There were 46(46.0%) males and 54(54.0%) females. Stroke was found to have morning peaks and tended to occur more during the midweek and weekends. Clinically, cerebral infarction accounted for 52.0% of cases, followed by intracerebral haemorrhage 27.0%, and subarachnoid haemorrhage 8.0%. Unclassified subtype was 13.0%. Hypertension remained a predominant risk factor affecting 73.0% of all cases.  Of the total number of patients with stroke, 34 (34.0%) recovered with minimal disability, 27 (27.0%) recovered with moderate disability while 15(15.0%) were severely disabled. Twenty four (24.0%) of the stroke patients died.

Conclusion: Stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality at UPTH. Detection of risk factors through health education and population screening should be encouraged.

Key words: Stroke, Adults, Clinical pattern, Prospective study, Port Harcourt