title: Stroke in Ashanti region of Ghana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the morbidity and mortality in adult in-patients with stroke admitted to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of in-patients with stroke admitted to the KATH, from January 2006 to december 2007 was undertaken. Data from admission and discharge registers were analysed to determine stroke morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stroke constituted 9.1% of total medical adult admissions and 13.2% of all medical adult deaths within the period under review. The mean age of stroke patients was 63.7 (95% ci=62.8, 64.57) years. Males were younger than females. The overall male to female ratio was 1:0.96, and the age-adjusted risk of death from stroke was slightly lower for females than males (relative risk= 0.88; 95% ci=0.79, 1.02, p=0.08). The stroke case fatality rate was 5.7% at 24 hours, 32.7% at 7 days, and 43.2% at 28 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stroke constitutes a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Ghana. Major efforts are needed in the prevention and treatment of stroke. Population-based health education programs and appropriate public health policy need to be developed. This will require a multidisciplinary approach of key players with a strong political commitment. There is also a clear need for further studies on this topic including, for example, an assessment of care and quality of life after discharge from hospital. The outcomes of these studies will provide important information for the prevention efforts.
authors: Department of Social Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Agyemang
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Attah-Adjepong
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Owusu-Dabo
authors: A
authors: A
authors: De-Graft Aikins
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Addo
authors: A K
authors: AK
authors: Edusei
authors: B C
authors: BC
authors: Nkum
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Ogedegbe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality
keywords: CVD; Cerebrovascular disease; Ghana; Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital; Stroke
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