Tropical Doctor > Volume 39, Number 3 > Pp. 150-152

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Short Reports

Stroke at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria

Arthur Onwuchewa MBBS FMCP      Hope BellGam MBBS FWACP     God'spower Asekomeh MBBS MWACP  

Department of Medicine, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Correspondence to: Arthur Onwuchewa, Department of Medicine, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria Email: Ac_onwuchekwa{at}yahoo.com

The case records of 202 consecutive adult Nigerian in-patients with stroke at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) were retrospectively reviewed. The mean age at presentation was 62.62 ± 14.2 years. The male to female ratio was 1:1.2. The commonest risk factors were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolaemia, older age and a previous history of stroke. Clinically, 67.3% had cerebral infarction (CI), while 27.7% had intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). The peak age of events for both sub-types was the 7th decade. The case fatality was 55.4% for ICH and 23.5% for CI. Thus, stroke is associated with high mortality at the UPTH. Improved emergency care of stroke patients is needed while the setting up of dedicated stroke centres is advocated. A community-based study is necessary to provide more insight into the problem and also highlight the basis for appropriate intervention and policy.

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