Dyslipidemia in Acute Non-cardioembolic Ischemic Stroke Patients at a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

INTRODUCTION: Acute ischemic stroke is the second most common cause of death after ischemic heart disease worldwide and Nepal's top five diseases based on Disability-Adjusted Life Years. Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease but has an unclear role in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. The objective of this study was to find the prevalence of dyslipidemia in acute non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke patients at a tertiary care centre. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 76 patients with acute non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke admitted in the Neuromedicine unit of a tertiary care centre from August 2017 to July 2018. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee of the same institute (Reference number: 478/2020). Patients underwent baseline investigations, including fasting lipid profile and Computed Tomography Scan/Magnetic Resonance Imaging head. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21.0. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. RESULTS: The prevalence of dyslipidemia among the acute non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke patients was 35 (46.05%) (35.05-57.05 at 95% Confidence Interval) where high total cholesterol was diagnosed in 11 (31.43%), high triglycerides in 25 (71.43%), high low-density-lipoprotein in 10 (28.57%), and low high-density-lipoprotein in 11 (31.43%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of dyslipidemia among acute non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke patients at our tertiary care centre is higher than the similar studies done in similar settings.