Background: Stroke is an increasing problem in Ghana and the West African sub-region. New and modifiable risk factors for stroke have gained prominence in the last decade but have not been adequately researched in West Africa.
Method: This was a case-control study with plasma Homocysteine (Hcy) as an independent risk factor for stroke. 80 consecutive stroke patients with 80 age-sex matched controls were venesected in the fasting state for assay of Hcy and other biochemical parameters.
Results: Mean Hcy level in stroke cases of 40.7 ± 9.5µmol/l was significantly higher than 16.8 ± 10.6µmol/l in controls [p<0.0001]. There was a significant association of hyperHcy with stroke [χ(2); p<0.0001]. OR of stroke calculated for quartiles of Hcy, demonstrated an increase in OR of 1.37 (25(th) percentile) to an OR of 3.80 (75(th) percentile).
Conclusions: Hcy was elevated in patients with stroke and should be considered as a modifiable risk factor for stroke in Ghanaian adults.
Keywords: Ghana; Haemorrhage; Homocysteine; Hyperhomocysteinemia; Infarction; Stroke.