Is Prevalence of Hypertension Increasing in First-Ever Stroke Patients?: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Stroke is a devastating and disabling cerebrovascular disease with some amount of residual deficit leading to economic loss. Recent Indian studies have shown a stroke prevalence rate of 471.58/100,000 populations. Hypertension has been known to be the main risk factor for causing stroke. Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of hypertension in first-ever stroke patients and its comparison with the previous stroke registry. Methods: The study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients, who were admitted in the Neurology ward of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India, were recruited for the study from the period July 2012 to January 2014. The stroke units consisted of a computerized record containing the details of all the admitted patients. Results: A total of 260 patients were recruited in which 194 (74.6%) were ischemic and 66 (25.4%) were hemorrhagic stroke patients. Hypertension was present in 169 (65%) patients. When compared with the previous stroke registry of 2,628 patients, hypertension was recorded in 1,503 (57.2%) patients. Conclusion: Our data show that there is an increase in the proportion of hypertension among first-ever stroke patients reported in AIIMS in the years 2012-2014 as compared to that reported in during the period 1998-2011.