Analysis of hospital-based stroke registry in a neurological centre in Kolkata

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Stroke is a significant health concern globally and in India.
• Understanding the specific types of stroke, such as intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and cerebral infarct (CI), is crucial for targeted interventions.
• Previous data on stroke subtype prevalence in West Bengal is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the types and characteristics of stroke cases admitted to hospitals in West Bengal.
• To determine the ratio of cerebral infarct (CI) to intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in this patient cohort.
• To identify potential risk factors and highlight the need for further epidemiological research on stroke in the region.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 801 hospital inpatient records from January 1995 to December 2001.
• Inclusion criteria: stroke cases excluding subarachnoid hemorrhage.
• Neuro-imaging data was available for 792 patients, allowing classification into ICH and CI.

Main Results:

• Out of 801 stroke cases, 399 were intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and 393 were cerebral infarct (CI).
• The cerebral infarct (CI) to intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) ratio was 0.98.
• Hypertension was prevalent in 77.3% of ICH cases.
• Less than 25% of patients arrived at the hospital within 3 hours of stroke onset.
• 29% of cases presented with mild stroke (Canadian stroke score > 8.5).

Conclusions:

• The study observed a notably high proportion of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) among admitted stroke patients in West Bengal.
• The findings suggest a potential high prevalence and incidence of ICH in this Indian state.
• Further population-based studies are recommended to accurately determine the epidemiological burden of ICH in West Bengal.