title: Stroke at the university of port harcourt teaching hospital, rivers state, Nigeria.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Ac_onwuchekwa@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Onwuchewa
authors.forename: Hope
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bellgam
authors.forename: God'spower
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Asekomeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology