Prognostic factors in acute stroke, regarding to stroke severity by Canadian Neurological Stroke Scale: A hospital-based study

INTRODUCTION: Stroke is an acute vascular disease and the second leading cause of death in the world. We have assessed the patients on hospital admission with some other prognostic factors besides the preliminary neurological examinations in order to estimate their clinical status in the future. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was performed on the patients admitted to Valiasr Hospital of Arak within 72 h of stroke onset from April to October 2011. Diagnosis of stroke in the suspected patients was done by a neurologist and verified by the findings of the computed tomography scans. For each patient, a specific questionnaire, which described its stroke severity according to canadian neurological scale of stroke (CNSS), was prepared in order to define the severity of the stroke. Systolic as well as diastolic blood pressure of the patients was measured at the admission and their level of blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride was also determined. RESULTS: Out of 62 patients under study (mean age, 66.14 ± 10.9 years), 36 (58.1%) were males and 26 (41.9%) were females. Overall, 66.1% of the patients were diagnosed with the ischemic stroke, while 33.9% were diagnosed with the hemorrhagic stroke. Regression analysis showed that cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure were the most important prognostic factors of the severity of stroke (CNSS). CONCLUSION: Diastolic blood pressure and serum cholesterol level have the potential to be used for assessing the stroke outcome as well as to improve the stroke rehabilitation.