Stroke; a hospital based study on stratification of risk factors of stroke, its clinical features and response to treatment in Mirpur Azad Kashmir

The objective of the present study was to determine the risk factors of stroke, its clinical features and response to treatment in Mirpur Azad Kashmir. Prospective observational study. This study was conducted at Medical Wards of DHQ Teaching Hospital Mirpur Azad Kashmir from March 2012 to January 2013. Two hundreds patients with established diagnosis of stroke were selected. A questionnaire was prepared in accordance with the objectives of the study. Questionnaire contained detail history, general physical examination, and neurological examination. Association of risk factors with stroke was also studied. Different clinical features were also noted and response to the given treatment was checked by morbidity and mortality ratio. The data thus obtained was subjected to statistical analysis. One hundred and thirty two[66%] had hypertension, fifty five[27.5%] were smoker, fifty three[26.5%] had diabetes, twenty five[12.5%] had ischemic heart disease. In clinical features one hundred and two [51%] had headache, ninety nine [49.5%] had hemiplegia, ninety four patients [47%] had loss of consciousness. On CT scan finding one hundred and forty four patients [72%] had infarction while fifty six [28%] had hemorrhagic stroke. After recommended treatment patients discharged were one hundred and eighty two [91%] while eighteen[9%] died within a month. Hypertension, smoking, diabetes are major modifiable risk factors, headache, hemiplegia, loss of consciousness are major clinical features, chances of ischemic stroke are much more as compared to hemorrhagic. Response to treatment is good

Clinical presentation, risk factors and outcome of stroke at a district level teaching hospital

Stroke is a fatal clinical syndrome with mortality rate ranging up to 25%. Hypertension, smoking and diabetes mellitus are common preventable risk factors which are associated with serious outcome. Objective of this study was to determine the clinical presentation, risk factors and outcome of stroke. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Medical Wards of DHQ Teaching Hospital, Mirpur Azad Kashmir from March 2010 to January 2011. A questionnaire was prepared in accordance with the objectives of the study. Frequency of risk factors in patients with stroke were studied. Different clinical features were also noted and response to the given treatment was checked in the form of mortality and recovery. Frequencies and percentages were calculated using SPSS-12. Two hundred patients with stroke were selected. Of the total, 136 [68%] had hypertension, 55 [27.5%] were smokers, 53 [26.5%] had diabetes and 25 [12.5%] patients had ischemic heart disease. One hundred and two [51%] patients presented with headache, 99 [49.5%] developed hemiplegia and 94 [47%] had loss of consciousness. CT brain showed infarction in 144 [72%] patients while 56 [28%] had haemorrhage. Observed mortality in this study was 18 [9%] while 182 [91%] patients were discharged after treatment. Hypertension, smoking and diabetes mellitus are major modifiable risk factors for stroke. Headache, hemiplegia and loss of consciousness are major clinical features. Ischemic stroke is much common compared to hemorrhagic stroke. With proper care stroke is manageable satisfactorily