The incidence and pattern of stroke in bayelsa state, nigeria

Stroke is a major cause of death in adults’ world wild and it contributes to disability and reduced quality of life. In this study stroke patients constituted 2.3% of the total hospital admissions and 9.3% of medical admissions. In order to understand the pattern of stroke in Bayelsa state, a total number of 28 stroke patients out of 300 patients that were admitted over a period of seven months, between November 2007 and June 2008 at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri were studied. Questionnaires which assessed their biodata, clinical and laboratory data’s were used. Risk factors assessed were hypertension (89%), alcohol (57%), tobacco smoking (53.5%), Male factor (m: f =1.15:1). The mean age of the study group was 62.2±9. 64% of the stroke patients were in the active social segment of the society. Stroke affected more of the poor society who lived in the rural areas. The prevalence of ischaemic stroke was higher than haemorrhagic stroke. In conclusion, hypertensive heart disease was a major co-morbidity of stroke.