Prevalence and Prognosis of Cerebrovascular Accidents and its Subtypes: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Hail Region, Saudi Arabia

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Hail, Saudi Arabia

2 Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Hail, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Cerebrovascular accidents or stroke is an important healthcare concern. Ischemic stroke is an acute neurologic deficit that results from focal cerebral ischemia leading to permanent tissue damage (infarction). The cause is commonly associated with atherothrombotic occlusion of large arteries, cerebral embolism (embolic infarction), nonthrombotic occlusion of small, deep cerebral arteries (lacunar infarction), and proximal arterial stenosis with hypotension that decreases cerebral blood flow in arterial watershed zones (hemodynamic stroke). Stroke is being observed as a rapidly growing problem and an important cause of illness and death in Saudi Arabia. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to establish the prevalence and prognosis of cerebrovascular accidents and its subtypes in the Hail Region, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected on all patients who experienced CVAs between September 2017–January 2018, used the diagnosis coding program in King Khalid Hospital in Hail, Saudi Arabia. Out of 190 patients, 63.7% were male and  36.3% were female. The overall incidence of ischemic stroke after acute myocardial infarction was 85.26%. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus were shown as more risk factors for ischemic stroke type compared with hemorrhagic stroke and embolic stroke. The overall status of stroke patients was shown 92.1% live and 7.9% were dead. The incidence of complicating hospitalizations with cerebrovascular accident continues to grow and is associated with increased mortality and adverse discharge. This highlights the need for early diagnosis, better risk stratification, and preparedness for the need for complex long-term care in this vulnerable population.

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