A comprehensive analysis of stroke admissions at a rural Nigerian tertiary health facility: Insights from a single-center study

Abstract

Objectives: This research intended to examine the demographic and clinical attributes of stroke admissions in a rural Nigerian hospital. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of stroke admissions was conducted over 1 year. All necessary data were obtained from patients’ records and SPSS was employed for data analysis. P < 0.05 was deemed significant. Results: There were 52 stroke cases, accounting for 5.9% of medical admissions. The patients’ mean age was 62.81 ± 12.71 years, while females constituted 51.9% of cases. Common risk factors included hypertension (76.9%), hyperlipidemia (38.5%), alcohol (26.9%), and diabetes mellitus (26.9%). Clinical manifestations included hemiparesis/plegia (84.6%), altered consciousness (63.5%), slurred speech (61.5%), cranial nerve deficit (61.5%), aphasia (42.3%), and headache (34.6%). Ischemic stroke (71.2%) predominated over hemorrhagic stroke (28.8%). The average hospitalization duration was 17.62 ± 8.91 days, and the mean onset to arrival time was 121.31 ± 136.06 h. Discharge and mortality rates were 82.7% and 13.5%, respectively. The association between stroke subtypes and mortality was significant (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Stroke constitutes a significant portion of medical admissions in Nigeria, with ischemic stroke being more prevalent. High mortality rates underscore the urgent need to manage risk factors to prevent stroke.

Sociodemographic Predictors of Knowledge and Practice of Stroke Preventive Strategies among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Hospital in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria

“…In Africa, data available within the past 10 years showed that stroke has a yearly incidence rate of up to 316 per 100,000, a prevalence of up to 1,460 per 100,000, and a 3-year mortality rate greater than 80% (Akinyemi, et al, 2021). In Nigeria between the last two decades, 30-day case fatality rates ranging from 21.2% to 40% was reported (Erameh, Emorinken, & Akpasubi, 2023;Ekeh, et al, 2015;Mohammedm et al, 2021). The Global Stroke Factsheet8 brought out in 2022 indicated that the likelihood of having a stroke in one's lifetime has increased by 50% over the last decade and 1 in 4 people is predicted to have a stroke in their lifetime.…”