Survival after stroke in Saudis: A hospital based study

Background: Prognosis of stroke has been studied in various population. Factors adversely affecting short term survival include impaired consciousness, leg weakness and increasing age. Aim of the Study: In this study, the prognostic effects of age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and presentation in coma on the survival pattern of stroke patients presenting to a referral hospital, are reviewed. Methodology: The medical records of all patients hospitalized with definite stroke at King Fahd Specialist Hospital, Buraidah, for the period between June 1986 and June 1991, were reviewed. The Cranial CT Scans were also reviewed. Results: One hundred and seventy four patients, 106 males and 68 females, with a mean age of 64 years who had definite stroke were studied to estimate overall survival and the various risk factors influencing it. The case records and cranial CT scans were reviewed. At the time of analysis, just over 72% of the patients were, alive, with an overall mean survival after stroke of 120 weeks. Approximately 11% of patients died within two weeks of the stroke diagnosis. Conclusion: The factors adversely affecting survival in this study, were age above 60 (P<0.04), presentation in coma (P<0.003) and pre-existing heart disease (P<0.0009). There was no significant effect on survival due to sex, hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus.