Baseline characteristics of patients with acute ischemic stroke in a suburban area of Thailand.
BACKGROUND
Development in stroke care during the past two decades has greatly reduced mortality and dependence in many developed countries. However, we still lack information about baseline characteristics of patients with ischemic stroke in Thailand, especially in suburban areas.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to study characteristics of Thai patients with ischemic stroke, including carotid stenosis and aspirin nonresponders.


METHODS
In this preliminary study, we included all patients with acute/subacute ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack from August 2006 to July 2007. Information about baseline characteristics, including medication, was collected. Carotid duplex studies were performed in all patients who were clinically stable.


RESULTS
In all, 194 patients with ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack were studied. Of patients, 62% came to the hospital within 24 hours after onset of symptoms, and 8% arrived within 3 hours. Stroke in the young was 13%. Of patients, 28% had already been on aspirin (aspirin nonresponder) before having a new ischemic stroke. Significant carotid stenosis was found in 17% (31 of 184) of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Although fewer patients came to the hospital within 3 hours after stroke onset, other baseline characteristics of Thai patients with ischemic stroke do not much differ from those of other Asian countries.
Dharmasaroja
Pornpatr
P
Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand. pornpatr1@hotmail.com
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D018881:Suburban Health; D013785:Thailand; D013997:Time Factors; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin