Estimated Probability of Stroke Among Medical Outpatients in Enugu South East Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a growing noncommunicable disease in Africa and accounts for a substantial number of medical and neurological admissions in Nigerian hospitals. The prevalence of some risk factors for stroke such as hypertension and diabetes are high and growing among Africans. AIM: The aim was to investigate the distribution of stroke risk factors and estimate the 10-year probability of stroke among patients attending the out-patient clinics in the two biggest hospitals in Enugu South East Nigeria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Consecutive consenting patients attending out-patient clinics at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital and Enugu state University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital all in Enugu were enrolled. Risk factors for stroke were evaluated using a series of laboratory tests, medical history and physical examinations. The 10-year probability of stroke was determined by applying the Framingham stroke risk equation. Statistical analysis was performed with the use of the SPSS 17.0 software package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: A total of 165 patients were evaluated. Of these 94 were male and 71 were female. The most common risk factors were left ventricular hypertrophy 70.3% (116/165) and raised systolic blood pressure 52.7% (87/165). The mean age of patients was 66.1 (8.1) years. The mean 10-year probability of stroke was 18.1 (14.6) (19.7 [14.9] in men and 14.5 [14.6] women) and was higher in older age groups. CONCLUSION: The 10-year probability of stroke in Nigerians attending medical outpatient Clinic in SE Nigeria may be high. Aggressive interventions are needed to reduce risk factors and the probability of stroke risks especially in men in SE Nigeria.