A Review of Stroke Cases in a Military Hospital in Nigeria

BACKGROUND: CVA (Stroke) remains one of the most common neurological illnesses in the country, accounting for a greater percentage of morbidity and morality. Its increasing prevalence is a source of worry to most health personnel. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to review the patient characteristic, risk factors, clinical features and prognostic factors among the patients with CVA who were admitted within the period under review; with a view to reinforcing measure to address this factor. METHOD: This is a retrospective study of all new patient managed for stroke in the medical ward of Military hospital, Port Harcourt from January 1, 2012 to October 31, 2012. RESULT: A total of 37 patients were admitted with stroke during the period under review. The males were 19 (51.3%) and females, 18 (48.7%). Hypertension (81.1%), Deranged lipid profile (45.9%) and diabetics (24.3%) were the commonest risk factors for stroke. HIV accounted for 10.8% of the patients, and it was also the risk factor in all the patients less than 50yrs. Sixteen (43.2%) patients had left hemparesis, 14(37.8%) right hemiparesis, while global was 7 (18.9%). A total of 7 deaths were recorded in the first 72hrs of admission. CONCLUSION: Stroke still contributes significantly to the increasing mortality and morbidity among patients admitted in our hospitals. Modifiable risk factors should be aggressively addressed to reduce the burden of stroke in our society.