ABSTRACT
Introduction: There are 15 million people worldwide who suffer a stroke each year. According to the World Health Organization,stroke is the second leading cause of death for people above the age of 60 years, and the fifth leading cause in people aged15–59 years old.Aim: This study aims to study the clinical profile of patients presenting with stroke in South Tamil Nadu.Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Medicine at Kanyakumari GovernmentMedical College from September 2018 to June 2019. A total of 140 patients who presented with symptoms of stroke wereassessed, for the relative frequency of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke separately.Results: The incidence of stroke is maximum in the age group of 51–60 years comprise 34.28% with a mean age of 56 years.Cerebral infarction was more than hemorrhage. Hypertension was among leading risk factors for both types comprise 48.5%.Hemiplegia was the most common presentation followed by speech involvement and facial palsy. In ischemic stroke, the mostcommon site was internal (20.71%) followed by parietal (9.28%). In hemorrhage, the most common site was capsuloganglionic(7.85%) followed by thalamus (5.0%).Conclusion: Developing countries like India are facing a double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases.Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in India.