Three months outcome of a sample of stroke patients in Erbil city

Background and objective: Stroke is still one of the major causes of death, and the incidence and mortalities are increasing. The objective of the study is to measure the three months outcome of stroke patients discharged alive from the hospital. Methods: A longitudinal study was carried out in Rizgary Teaching Hospital in Erbil, Iraq during the period from 1st of April, 2018 to the 30th September, 2018 involving 100 patients with ischemic stroke. Results: The mean age (± SD) of patients was 64.15 ± 13.35 years, the age ranging from 26-89 years, and the median was 65 years. More than half (54%) of patients were males. Twenty (20%) patients died within three months after the development of stroke, 4% developed ischemic stroke after three months. Significantly higher rates of death were detected among those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P <0.001) and those with dysphagia (P = 0.002). No significant association was detected between the case fatality rate with age, gender, body mass index, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, ischemic heart disease, angina, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, heart valve dysfunction, strenuous physical activity, treatment for diabetes, treatment for high cholesterol, and HbA1c levels. Conclusion: The case fatality rate was relatively high three months after the development of stroke. It is recommended to strengthen the follow up measures after patients’ discharge from the hospital.