Stroke Risk Factor Profile In Nigerian African Women

Abstract

Background: Stroke is a growing noncommunicable disease in Africa. Though stroke accounts for a substantial number of medical and neurological admissions in Nigerian hospitals, the specific impact of stroke on women has not been well documented. Aim: This study examined the profile of risk factors in women diagnosed with stroke in South East Nigeria. Methodology: A retrospective study was done of all adult Nigerian women admitted with a diagnosis of stroke into the medical wards and casualty department of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. The period covered was from January 2006 to December 2008. The case notes were retrieved and appropriate data including biometrics and identified risk factors for stroke in the patients. Results: Hypertension was the commonest risk factor (49.6%), followed by age ≥ 65years (39.4%), diabetes mellitus (16.8%) and heart disease (9.2%). Morbid obesity, dyslipidaemia and HIV infection were also present in 13.2% of the patients.Conclusion: Stroke principally affects the middle aged Nigerian women, with increasing cases of stroke in the young. Despite the predominance of recognized risk factors for stroke, there is the need for clinicians to still consider under-recognized risk factors such as HIV infection.