Prevalence of cerebrovascular accident and its associated risk factors among patients admitted into the neurological ward of university of Benin teaching hospital

ABSTRACT

Stroke is the second leading cause of death, accounting for 11.13 % of total deaths, and the main cause of disability worldwide. Objective: To determine the prevalence of stroke, its associated risk factors and survival rate among patients admitted to the neurological ward of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State. Methods: A retrospective descriptive survey of patients admitted to the neurological ward of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State from 2015 to 2020. A proforma was used to collect relevant data from medical records. Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics version 23, using descriptive and inferential statistics at 5% level of significance. Result: The average prevalence of cerebrovascular accident over the six years under review was 58.9%. Highest (69.3%) prevalence was recorded in 2018. Males (52.9%) were more affected than females and the age range 70-89 years was most affected (47.6%). The commonest comorbidities were hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Survival rate was high during the period under review, it was at the least in 2016 at 67.1% and highest in 2019 at 76%. Multiple logistic regression shows that patients who had CVA at below 30 years old were less likely to survive (OR;0.06 CI 0.000-0.114; p = 0.001). Being married conferred a greater likelihood of surviving a CVA (OR;5.34 CI 1.135 -25.135; p = 0.034) than being unmarried (OR;2.89 CI 2.702-49.673; p = 0.004). Tertiary level of education conferred the greatest likelihood of surviving a CVA (OR;8.00 CI 24.401-1168.674; p = 0.000). Conclusion: The prevalence of stroke from this study was high. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the most common risk factors associated with stroke. In-hospital stroke survival rate was high. The findings from this study can support advocacy for more efficient community-based programs geared towards awareness creation about stroke, its risk factors and prevention.