Risk factors for stroke and predictors of one-month mortality.

BACKGROUND

Stroke is the third most common cause of death in Malaysia.The prevalence of risk factors and predictors of mortality of stroke in Malaysia are poorly understood.

AIM

To identify the prevalence of major risk factors for stroke and to determine predictors of one-month mortality.

METHOD

Prospective study of all stroke patients admitted to Penang Hospital between December 1998 and November 1999. All patients were subjected to brain CT. Predictors of one-month mortality: systolic and diastolic hypertension, hyperglycaemia, type of stroke, age > or = 70, poor Glasgow coma score (GCS) on admission and deterioration of score were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 246 (139 male and 107 female) patients were included. Median age was 65 years. Hypertension was the commonest risk factor (71.5%) followed by diabetes mellitus (40.2%) and hyperlipidaemia (37%). 74.8% of the cases were ischaemic in origin and 25.2% haemorrhagic. Mortality at one month was 20.3%. Using multivariate analysis and logistic regression, deterioration of GCS (OR = 46.04), poor GCS on admission (OR = 12.35) and haemorrhagic stroke (OR = 3.45) were independent predictors of one-month mortality.

CONCLUSION

Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are the commonest risk factors of stroke among patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Malaysia. Significant predictors of one-month mortality include the admission GCS, deterioration of GCS and haemorrhagic stroke.