Retrospective analysis of stork and its risk factors at Nepal MedicalCollege Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Stroke is a major public health burden worldwide and is responsible for a large proportion of disability;
and ranks third in the causation of morbidity and mortality. This disease although regarded as a disease
of old age, it is not uncommon in younger population in developing countries.. A retrospective study of
cerebro-vascular accidents (stroke) managed at Department of Medicine, Nepal Medical College
Teaching Hospital during the period of 1st April 2000 to 31st March 2005 was done to study
demographics and risk factors. Cases of TIA were not included in the final analysis of the data due to
uncertainty of diagnosis and lack of imaging (CT scan). The collected data was analyzed using data
analysis software SPSS® (version 12). We identified 72 cases of stroke excluding TIA. The mean age at
which patients in this study experienced their first ever stroke was 61.7 yrs (SD 14.9 yrs). The
commonest presenting complaints in our study population were weakness of limbs (90.3%), slurring of
speech (33.3%), altered mental status (29.8%), deviation of angle of mouth and headache (22.2%) each
and urinary incontinence (13.9%). Vomiting, dizziness, fever, personality changes, seizure, tingling
sensation of limbs were uncommon clinical presentation and were present in 15.28% of cases. Risk
factors were smoking (58.3%), hypertension (47.2%), alcohol (41.4%), atrial fibrillation (12.5%) and
diabetes mellitus (11.1%). To conclude, stroke in countries like Nepal is a public health problem. The
clinical presentations and risk factors are in agreement with other studies. The low mean age of stroke
patient reflects demographic feature of this region.