Predictors of ischemic versus hemorrhagic strokes in hypertensive patients.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the factors that predispose to ischemic versus hemorrhagic stroke in hypertensive patients.


METHODS
Cohort study.


METHODS
The study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, from August 1999 to May 2001.


METHODS
All the hypertensive patients, who were registered in AKUH acute stroke outcome data base, over a period of 22 months, were identified and from this cohort the patients with first ever stroke were selected. The data regarding demographics, stroke type (ischemic vs. hemorrhagic), pre-existing medical problems, laboratory and radiological investigations was recorded and analyzed.


RESULTS
Five hundred and nineteen patients with either ischemic stroke or parenchymal hemorrhage were registered over a period of 22 months. Three hundred and forty-eight patients (67%) had hypertension and of these, 250 had first ever stroke at the time of admission. Presence of diabetes mellitus (OR: 3.76; CI:1.67-8.46) and ischemic heart disease (OR: 6.97; CI:1.57-30.98) were found to be independent predictors of ischemic strokes.


CONCLUSIONS
Presence of diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease predict ischemic stroke in a patient with hypertension.
Khealani
Bhojo A
BA
Department of Medicine, Neurology Section, The Aga Khan University, Karachi.
Syed
Nadir A
NA
Maken
Sabeen
S
Mapari
Uzma U
UU
Hameed
Bilal
B
Ali
Sajjad
S
Qureshi
Rizwana
R
Akhter
Naveed
N
Hassan
Ali
A
Sonawalla
Aziz B
AB
Baig
Shahid M
SM
Wasay
Mohammed
M
D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*