[Risk and severity factors in cerebrovascular accidents in west african Blacks of Burkina Faso].

This report presents the findings of a retrospective review of 193 cases of cerebrovascular attacks (CVA) diagnosed on the basis of clinical data over a 3-year period at the Bobo Dioulasso Hospital in Burkina Faso. CVA accounted for 15.1% of admissions for cardiovascular disorders. Mean patient age was 58.4 +/- 14 years and the male to female ratio was 2:1. From a socioeconomic standpoint 72% of patients had low incomes and 22% were laborers. Risk factors were poorly controlled hypertension (83.9%), obesity (44.2%), hyperlipidemia (20.6%), thromboembolism (16.6%), smoking (12.4%), hypercholesterolemia (8.1%) and diabetes (7.3%). Further study is needed to confirm risk related to red blood cell abnormalities. The event was transient ischemic attack in 22 cases (11.7%) and stroke in 171 cases (88.3%). Hospital mortality was high (31.6%) with a significantly higher death rate in elderly (p < 0.05) and female (p < 0.001) patients. Recurrent CVA within a mean delay of 9 to 12 months following the initial event was observed in 11.4% of survivors and was fatal in 80%. The authors emphasize the need for improvement in the management of arterial hypertension by district physicians and for prevention of thromboembolic complications in high-risk patients.