Abstract

CLINICAL PROFILE OF PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH ACUTE STROKE TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OF A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE IN SOUTH INDIA

Aarsha Krishnan, Kathyayini V. R.*, Girees Kumar K. P., Sreekrishnan T. P., Dhanasekaran B. S. and Bharath Prasad S.

ABSTRACT

Background: Stroke is a disease with high mortality and morbidity. It causes devastating effect not only on patient’s physical life but also on the patient’s social, economic and mental wellbeing. The burden of the disease is at its peak and stroke prevention and management is of great significance. Methods: This is a prospective observational study which was conducted among patients presenting with stroke symptoms to Emergency Department of a tertiary centre in South India. Patient’s demographic details, presenting symptoms, preexisting co morbidities were neuroimaging findings, thrombolysis, icu admission, duration of hospital stay and outcome were studied. Results: Among the 100 patients included in our study, maximum patients (32%) belonged to the age group of 61-70 years. In our study the incidence of stroke was more among males (68%). Among the patients included in the study, the most common presenting complaint was swaying towards one side while walking (71%). Patients presenting with stroke, the commonly associated comorbidity was systemic hypertension, but many patients also had diabetes mellitus, Chronic kidney disease ,ischemic heart disease and previous cerebrovascular accidents. Among the 100 patients included in the study 70% patients had ischemic and 30% patients had haemorrhagic stroke. In the study 13 (13%) patients had presented to ER in the window period and among them thrombolysis was done in 9 patients. Conclusion: The incidence of stroke is increasing globally. The number of patients presenting with acute stroke to Emergency departments are more than everbefore. Stroke is a disease which can impose great burden not only patient’s health but also on their mental, social and economic wellbeing. Prevention, early detection and time bound treatment should be our areas of concern. In our study only 13% patients had presented to our Emergency department within window period. So awareness among public regarding stroke presentations, and the benefits of treatment (thrombolysis) within window period in ischemic stroke should be emphasized.

Keywords: Acute Stroke, Ischemic stroke, Hemorrhagic stroke, Window period.