Clinical Profile in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: Ischemic stroke is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, often leading to hospital admissions and imposing a substantial burden on healthcare systems. Method: The study was conducted at Dhaka Medical College Hospital from July to December 2010, enrolling 100 hospitalized patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke. Demographic data, clinical presentations, and risk factor profiles were collected using standardized forms and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Ischemic stroke was found most commonly in the 51-60 age groups (49%) and then the 61-70 age groups (24%). Most of the patients were male. The male-female ratio is 1.56:1. Most patients were from rural areas (69%). 58% of patients with ischemic stroke presented with a Glasgow coma scale (GCS) 9-15 and 42% with GCS <9. Cranial nerve palsy 20% of cases. Plantar reflexes were extensor in 80% of cases mostly on the left side. The commonest presentation was hemiplegia or hemiparesis (90%). Headache was present in 40%, vomiting in 20%, and convulsion in 23% of cases. Among patients with ischemic stroke, hypertension was found in 76% of cases, followed by dyslipidemia (46%), smoking (37%), diabetes mellitus (25%), heart disease (23%), and family history of stroke (21%). 71% of patients were on irregular use of antihypertensive drugs. Cortical infarction was found in 58% of cases. Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of recognizing the demographic and clinical characteristics of ischemic stroke patients for early intervention and prevention strategies. Addressing hypertension as a key modifiable risk factor could significantly reduce the burden of ischemic stroke.