Epidemiology and in-hospital outcome of stroke in South Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: Although the burden of stroke in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia, is increasing, there are few available data on stroke in Ethiopia.

Objective: To describe the magnitude of risk factors, sub-types and in-hospital outcome of stroke at Hawassa University Referral Hospital, Ethiopia.

Methods: A prospective hospital-based study was conducted with all adult patients admitted to Hawassa University Referral Hospital with stroke diagnosis between May 2013 and April 2014. Computerized tomography scan was performed in all patients to confirm the type of stroke. Stroke severity at admission was assessed by the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale. Stroke outcome at discharge was measured using the modified Rankin stroke scale.

Results: A total of 163 stroke patients were recruited during the study period, of which 82 (50.3%) patients had ischemic stroke while 81 (49.7%) had hemorrhagic stroke. Stroke risk factors included hypertension (50.9%), cardiac diseases (16.6%), diabetes mellitus (7.4%), alcohol (10.4%), cigarette smoking (4.9%) and tuberculous meningitis (3.1%). In-hospital stroke mortality was 14.7%. The main predictors of in-hospital stroke mortality were stroke severity at admission, hemorrhagic stroke, decreased level of consciousness and seizure.

Conclusion: The proportion of hemorrhagic stroke is higher than in Western countries. Hypertension is the most common risk factor for stroke. More than half of the patients were discharged with severe disability. We recommend establishing stroke units in resource limited countries like Ethiopia in order to reduce stroke mortality and post stroke disability.

Keywords: Ethiopia; Hemorrhagic stroke; Ischemic stroke; Risk factors; Stroke; Stroke outcome.