Ethnic variation in acute cerebrovascular disease: Analysis from the Qatar stroke registry

We analysed the Qatar stroke registry for ethnic variations in patients admitted with cerebrovascular disease at Hamad General Hospital, Qatar.

Patients admitted with acute stroke from January 2014 to December 2015, enrolled in the registry were included in the study. We evaluated the clinical presentation, risk factors, and outcome at discharge and 90 days post-discharge in relation to the patient's ethnic background.

A total of 1727 patients were enrolled in the Hamad General Hospital stroke registry (Middle Eastern 594 (34.4%), South East Asian 924 (53.5%) and Far Eastern 209 (12.1%)). There were significant differences in risk factors, clinical presentation and prognosis. Compared to Middle Eastern patients, Far Eastern patients were younger (62.8 ± 13.7 vs. 48.9 ± 9.1 years; p < 0.001). Diabetes and hypertension were significantly more common in Middle Eastern patients (358 (60.3%), 458 (77.1%)) compared to South East Asian patients (420 (45.5%), 596 (64.5%)) and Far Eastern patients (57 (27.3%), 154 (73.7%)), respectively (p < 0.001). Stroke was more severe in the Far Eastern group (median (interquartile range) - 5.0 (2-11.5)) compared to the Middle Eastern group (median (interquartile range) - 4.0 (1-8)) and South East Asian (median (interquartile range) - 4.0 (2-9)), p = 0.011. Mortality at 90 days was highest in patients from the Far East (15/209 (8.2%)) compared to the Middle East (35/594 (6.5%)) and South East Asia (33/924 (4.0)), p = 0.028. Patients from the Far East had significantly higher rates of intracranial hemorrhage compared to the Middle East and South East Asia (70/209 (33.5%), 77/594 (13.0%), and 169/924 (18.3%)), respectively (p < 0.001).

The early age at presentation and the poor control of risk factors, especially in patients from South East Asia and the Far East requires attention.