Influence of Diabetes Mellitus on Electrocardiographic Abnormalities in Stroke Cases

Background: Stroke or cerebrovascular accident according to the World Health Organization is a focal or global neurological deficit of vascular origin lasting more than 24 h or resulting in death before 24 h. In Sub-Saharan Africa as well as around the globe, stroke is the other leading cause of death among noncommunicable diseases, with the victims mainly in the productive age ranges. Notably, strokes are preceded by modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, smoking, and alcohol ingestion. The use of electrocardiography (ECG) in addition to controlling these risk factors would reduce the occurrence, morbidity, and mortality of stroke in at-risk patients as ECG is both a preventive and prognostic tool. The knowledge of data regarding abnormalities present in this group of patients will offer knowledge that will enhance physicians' patient management and provide data for future research. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of diabetes mellitus on ECG abnormalities in stroke cases at University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study carried out in UBTH, Benin, between January 2010 and 2013. The study subjects consisted of consecutive 120 admitted stroke patients who met the inclusion criteria. History and physical examination were carried out for all patients with laboratory investigations and electrocardiographic examinations also performed on all patients. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 software with a P < 0.05 considered significant for all comparisons. Results: In this study, stroke was less in diabetic 28 (23.33%) than in nondiabetic 92 (76.67%). Four (14.3%) and 24 (26.1%) of diabetic and nondiabetic cases, respectively, in this study, had no ECG abnormalities. Sixty-eight (85.70%) and 24 (73.90%) of diabetic and nondiabetic, respectively, had ECG abnormalities; this was not significant P = 0.196. Conclusion: The only significant ECG abnormalities noted in diabetic and nondiabetic stroke cases were left atrial enlargement and nonspecific intraventricular block, which were seen more in diabetic stroke cases.