Abstract

Dr. Hareem Tariq, Dr. Amara Malik, Dr. Saba Sarfraz*

ABSTRACT

Background: Stroke is an important morbidity for low and middle income countries like Pakistan. This study was conducted to note the frequency of complications in ischemic stroke patients to determine magnitude of the problem in our local population. Objective: To determine the morbidity pattern in patients with ischemic stroke at a tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods: All the cases of ischemic stroke (170), fulfilling inclusion criteria were recruited in this cross – sectional study. Once registered these study cases was assessed for different complications (UTI, shoulder pain, arrhythmia, pneumonia and hyponatremia) after undergoing baseline investigations like urine test, blood tests and ECG. Data was entered and analyzed by computer program SPSS-18. Results: Of these 170 study cases, 95 (55.8%) were male patients while 75 (44.2%) were female patients. Mean age of our studied cases was 48.6± 8.18 years. Out of these 170 cases, 70 (41.2%) were from rural area while 100 (58.8%) from urban areas, 112 (65.8%) were hypertensive and 40 (23.8%) were diabetic. Mean body mass index (BMI) of our study cases was 23.58 ± 3.29 kg/m2 and obesity was present in 35 (20.5%). Previous history of stroke was present in 18 (10.5%) while family history of stroke was noted in 41 (24.1%) of our study cases and 118 (69.4%) were illiterate and 52 (30.6%) were literate. History of smoking was present in 54 (31.7%) of our study cases. Mean serum sodium level was noted to 135.9 ± 2.03 mEq/L, shoulder pain in 65 (38.2%), pneumonia in 45 (26.4%), arrhythmia in 58 (34.1%) urinary tract infection (UTI) was noted in 86 (50.5%), and hyponatremia in 48 (28.2%) of our cases. Conclusion: The results of our study showed that there is very high ratio of medical complications in ischemic stroke patient. We found that urinary tract infection was the most common complication followed by shoulder pain, arrhythmia, pneumonia and hyponatremia. All clinicians treating such patients should carefully monitor such patients to take preventive measure against these complications, this will decrease disease morbidity and hospitalizations in these patients.