| Summary: | Objective: Stroke is a major health problem, yet no studies on stroke have been reported fromPalestine. This one-year, hospital-based study was conducted to determine the prevalence of riskfactors and the in-hospital mortality rate in patients with ischemic stroke. Method: All patientsadmitted to Al-Watani government hospital and diagnosed with ischemic stroke between September2006 and August 2007 were included in the study. Data were obtained by retrospective review ofmedical charts. Pearson Chi-square and independent t test were used in the univariate analysis.Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of in-hospitalmortality rates among the patients. Statistical testing and graphics were carried out using SPSS 15.Results: We identified 153 ischemic stroke patients (83 females and 70 males) of whom 92 werehaving a first-ever stroke (FES). Patients had several prevalent modifiable risk factors such ashypertension (HTN) (66%), diabetes mellitus (DM) (45.8%), and renal reduced renal function (crcl <60 ml/ min) (33.9%). Twenty-six (17%) of the patients died during hospitalization. Four variables weresignificantly associated with in-hospital mortality: history of previous stroke (P= 0.004), crcl atadmission (P=0.004), number of post-stroke complications (P=0.001), and age (P=0.043). Multiplelogistic regression analysis indicated that the number of post-stroke complications (P= 0.001) andprevious stroke (P=0.03) were significant independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Conclusion:Screening and better control of risk factors, especially HTN, DM and renal dysfunction, are required todecrease the incidence and in-hospital mortality among patients with ischemic stroke.
|
|---|