COMPARISON OF ACUTE HAEMORRHAGIC AND ACUTE ISCHAEMIC STROKE IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL AT ABAKALIKI, NIGERIA: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY.

Background: Stroke is a neurological emergency with high prevalence, especially in developing countries where it assumes an epidemic proportion. It is globally the second most common cause of death after ischemic heart disease, and it is projected to remain so by 2030. It had a global prevalence of 1,300.6 per 100,000 people in 2017.

Objectives: This study compared the socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of acute Haemorrhagic and Ischaemic stroke patients managed over nine years in a private tertiary hospital in Abakaliki, Nigeria.

Methods: This is a Retrospective and comparative Hospital-based study conducted at a tertiary hospital in Abakaliki Nigeria from January 2014 to December 2022. Relevant data were retrieved from the case notes and the sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters of Haemorrhagic stroke victims were compared with that of Ischaemic stroke patients.

Results: Out of the 172 (males- 56.98%, females- 43.02%) patients that fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 53 (30.81%) had a Haemorrhagic stroke while 119 (69.19%) had an ischemic stroke. The overall admission mortality rate was 15%, and it was more preponderant among Haemorrhagic stroke victims. Haemorrhagic stroke was statistically associated with admitting hyperglycaemia , anaemia, hypercholesterolemia, neutrophilic leucocytosis, hypernatremia, alteration in consciousness, low educational attainment, and higher mortality.

Conclusions: Haemorrhagic stroke is more prevalent among female folks, and it is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. There is a need for a grassroots stroke awareness campaign amongst the populace to ensure prompt stroke symptom recognition and early presentation.