Awareness of Stroke among University Employees in Kigali, Rwanda: A Cross Sectional Study

Background Awareness of stroke is important for appropriate and timely stroke prevention and management. Objective To assess the level of awareness about the risk factors, signs, and appropriate responses for stroke among university employees in Rwanda. Methods We employed a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional approach. We involved 92 participants, and a self-administered questionnaire to collect data. We computed descriptive statistics and used the Chi-Square test to assess any differences in stroke awareness. Results We found that 12% and 15.2% of the participants were not aware of any risk factor and warning sign of stroke respectively. Regarding the reaction in case a warning sign of stroke was noticed, 9.8% of the participants indicated that they would do nothing or advise the victim to take rest at home. The limited awareness was significantly higher in the administrative than academic employees for both risk factors (p=0.002) and warning signs (p=0.006), but not for the appropriate responses to stroke (p=0.426). Conclusion A significant proportion of the participants were not aware of any stroke risk factor, warning sign and appropriate responses. It is important to conduct further similar studies and implement stroke education interventions in university communities

Minimum dataset standard for cohort study of high-risk population of stroke based on regional big data platform: a consensus / 预防医学

@#A large cohort study of high-risk population of stroke based on the real world is of great significance for stroke prevention and control. However, the data element structures, variable definitions and scopes of regional big data platforms are inconsistent, which will be an obstacle for data sharing, summary, and analysis among different regions. In this study, we formed an expert consensus on a unified minimum dataset standard for the cohort study of high-risk population of stroke, considering the categories and definitions of risk factors of stroke, and the existing database of the regional big data platforms. The consensus shall provide a reference for the comparison, integration, and sharing of real world data within and between regions, and play an important role in the cohort study on risk factors of stroke, as well as the implementation and evaluation of prevention and control measures.

Gender Differences in Risk Factor and Clinical Outcome in Patients with Ischemic Stroke / 고신대학교의과대학학술지

OBJECTIVE: Gender is an important determinant for risk factors and outcomes of ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to compare risk factors, and clinical outcomes after ischemic stroke between male and female patients. METHODS: The hospital records of patients with ischemic stroke were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic data, stroke risk factors, clinical severities and outcomes after stroke were collected and compared between male and female patients. Stroke severity and clinical disability after ischemic stroke were evaluated by means of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) respectively. RESULTS: Among 447 patients with ischemic stroke, 195 (43.6%) patients were women. The mean age at ischemic stroke was higher in women than in men (p<0.01). As compared to men, women had a significantly lower prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia, smoking and drinking (all p<0.01). NIHSS and mRS scores were not different between the 2 genders. CONCLUSIONS: Profiles of risk factors differed between the 2 genders, with men having a higher prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia, smoking and drinking. There were no gender differences in stroke severity and disability after ischemic stroke.

Association between Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness and Stroke Risk Factors in Ischemic Stroke / 대한뇌졸중학회지

BACKGROUND: Common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) is an accepted sonographic marker of early atherosclerosis, and increased IMT represents a risk of ischemic stroke. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between common carotid artery IMT and stroke risk factors in patients with ischemic stroke. METHODS: Subjects were 381 patients with acute ischemic stroke. High resolution B-mode ultrasonography was performed to measure IMT at common carotid artery. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine the independent factors related to common carotid artery IMT. RESULTS: The variables that strongly predicted an increase in the common carotid artery IMT were age (P <0.001) and diabetes mellitus (P <0.001). CONCLUSION: Increased common carotid artery IMT is independently associated with age and diabetes mellitus in patients with ischemic stroke.

Risk Factors of Recurrent Stroke and Taking Nursing Measure in the Elderly / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To take nursing measure through analysis on the risk factors of recurrent stroke in the aged.Methods Total 96 subjects were analyzed retrospectively.The risk factors were compared on the urban and the rural through analyzing their clinical characteristics.Results There were more diabetes mellitus and blood lipid disorder and obesity in urban than those in rural.There was also a difference in hypertension between the urban and the rural.Conclusion The recurrence of stroke in the aged is owing to many factors.The different measure should be taken by different reasons.

The Metabolic Syndrome,Its Constituents and the Risk of Stroke / 国际脑血管病杂志

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a general name for a group of metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular diseases,and its major constituents include hyperglycemia,hypertension,lipid abnormality and central obesity.Because MetS portly overlaps the risk factors of stroke,and thus it determines that MetS is closely related with stroke.No matter the interaction of all individual risk factor or multiple risk factors may affect the occurrence and development of stroke.