Evaluation of acute stroke patients applying to a university emergency service in terms of risk factors

Abstract

Aim: Stroke is a group of diseases that causes morbidity and loss of function at the highest rate worldwide that mostly affects the quality of life and is the second leading cause of death after heart diseases. In the present study, we aimed to determine the risk factors of the patients who applied to the emergency service and their distributions. Material and Method: Our study was formed retrospectively by evaluating the follow-up files of 194 patients who applied to Dicle University Medical Faculty Emergency and Traumatology Polyclinic and were diagnosed with stroke and were followed between June1, 2014 and June 1, 2016. Results: Of the 194 patients included in the study, 98 (51%) were female and 96 (49%) were male, the mean age was 69.6 +/- 13.4. One hundred and seventeen of patients (60%) were diagnosed with ischemic stroke, 77 of them (40%) were diagnosed with a hemorrhagic stroke. The mean age of men and women were 69.9 +/- 10 and 69.3 +/- 15.7 years respectively. According to the types of stroke, the mean age for those with ischemic stroke was 69.9 +/- 12.6, for those with hemorrhagic stroke was 69.3 +/- 14.8. In both types of stroke, the values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher than normal. When the age of the patients was compared in terms of both sex and type of stroke, no significant difference was determined in terms of age in the groups. The incidence of stroke was greater between the ages of 45 and 84 in 164 patients (84.5%). Discussion: The average age of the patients was in the advanced group and their average tension values were higher than normal. For this reason, advanced age and high blood pressure were considered as risk factors contributing to stroke development in our study group. It is significant to evaluate the risk factors of the patients during the continuous health services given to the patients and to provide appropriate treatment and regular follow-ups for those with risk factors.