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The cardiovascular status of the black stroke patient
J Joubert1, A L van Gelder, B Darazs
1Department of Neurology, Medical University of Southern Africa, Pretoria.
Insights
Cardiac abnormalities are common in Black stroke patients, with over 73% showing issues like rheumatic heart disease and hypertensive heart disease. These findings highlight the significant role of cardiac conditions in stroke etiology.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- Stroke is a major cause of disability and mortality worldwide.
- Cardiac abnormalities are increasingly recognized as significant contributors to stroke.
- Understanding the prevalence of cardiac conditions in diverse stroke populations is crucial for effective prevention and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the cardiac status of Black patients experiencing stroke.
- To identify the types and prevalence of structural and functional cardiac abnormalities in this population.
- To investigate potential cardiac sources of cerebral embolism in Black stroke patients.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 102 consecutive Black stroke patients.
- Cardiological examination.
- Echocardiography and gated blood pool scans for cardiac assessment.
- Ultrasonography to detect ventricular bands.
Main Results:
- Structural and/or functional cardiac abnormalities were found in 73.6% of patients.
- Hypertensive heart disease (35.2%) and rheumatic heart disease (15.6%) were the most prevalent conditions.
- Possible or definite cardiac sources of cerebral embolism were identified in 46% of patients.
- Ventricular bands were detected in 29.4% of patients.
Conclusions:
- Black stroke patients exhibit a high incidence of cardiac abnormalities.
- Cardiac conditions, including hypertensive heart disease and rheumatic heart disease, are significant factors in stroke.
- Non-invasive cardiac assessments are vital for identifying stroke risk factors in this demographic.
Abstract:
The cardiac status of 102 consecutive black stroke patients entered to the Medunsa Stroke Databank was determined. Cardiological examination, echocardiography and a gated blood pool scan revealed structural and/or functional cardiac abnormalities in 73.6% of patients. Rheumatic heart disease was diagnosed in 15.6%, mitral valve prolapse in 5.8% and mitral annulus calcification in 4.9% of cases. 'Possible' cardiac sources of cerebral embolism were detected in 22.5% and 'definite' sources in 23.5% of patients. Hypertensive heart disease was diagnosed in 35.2% and cardiomyopathy in 13.7% of the study population. Ischaemic heart disease was present in 6.86%. Ultrasonography revealed ventricular bands in 29.4% of patients. The high incidence of structural cardiac abnormalities detected by non-invasive means is in keeping with recent studies in white stroke patients.