The association of diabetes with ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attacks in a tertiary center in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus increases stroke risk 1.5 to 3 fold, particularly ischemic stroke. There is limited literature on the impact of diabetes on stroke patients in Saudi Arabia. OBJECTIVES: Determine the association of diabetes on the presentation, subtypes, in-hospital complications and outcomes of ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIA). DESIGN: IRB approved, retrospective chart review. SETTING: Tertiary care center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All adult patients with ischemic stroke or TIA aged 18 years or older admitted from January 2016 to December 2017 were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Stroke severity at presentation, stroke-related complications, discharge disposition and discharge modified Rankin Scale (mRS) in relation to diabetes. SAMPLE SIZE: 802 patients. RESULTS: Among 802 cases, 584 (72.8%) had diabetes; the majority (63.1%) were males. The mean age was younger in the non-diabetic stroke group (54.6 [15.5] years vs. 63.3 [9.9], P<.001). Hypertension (83.6% vs 49.1%, P<.001), dyslipidemia (38.9% vs. 28.9%, P=.009), prior stroke (27.7% vs. 19.3% P=.014), and ischemic heart disease (20.4% vs. 7.8%, P<.001) were more common in diabetic patients whereas smoking was more common (19.3% vs. 11.1%, P=.003) in the non-diabetic patients. The commonest subtype of stroke was large artery disease followed by small vessel disease. Both were more common in diabetic vs. non-diabetic patients (55.8% vs. 44%, P=.003), and (16.6% vs. 11%, P=.05) respectively. Diabetic stroke patients were more likely to have lacunar stroke (16.4% versus 9.2%, P=.009). TIAs occurred more commonly in the non-diabetic group (26.1% vs. 13.7%, P<.001). Non-diabetic patients had a better outcome (mRS score of 0–2) at discharge (62.4% vs. 45.9%, P=.002). CONCLUSIONS: Almost three-fourth stroke patients were diabetic in our cohort. Diabetic stroke patients were older, had multiple vascular comorbid conditions, presented late to the hospital, and were likely to have more disability at the time of discharge. Large vessel atherosclerosis as well as lacunar infarctions were more common in diabetic stroke patients. LIMITATIONS: Missing data about time of presentation in few patients, missing modified Rankin Scale score at discharge. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.