| Popis: |
A review of hospital admissions for stroke between January 1980 – December 1999 at the Medical wards of the the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu was undertaken to ascertain the frequency, patterns and risk factors associated with ischaemic strokes attributable to cardiogenic brain emolisation. The results showed that of the 450 medical admissions for ischemic stroke, 5.1% (23 cases) were cerebral infarction related to cardiogenic embolism. There was a male preponderance (M:F=5.7:2). The highest rate of cerebral embolism was seen in the age group 50 -59 years. The commonest observed risk factors included hypertension in association with atrial fibrillation (21.7%) and hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (17.4%). The right cerebral hemispheres were more frequently affected (43.5%). The relative risk (R,R) risk of cerebral Cardioembolism attributable to AF Cardiomyopathy, hypertension were 13.34 (C.I. 11.5, 15.5); 9.8, (C.I. 6.3, 1.6); 0.27 (C.I. 6.1, 2.2) respectively. There is need for physicians to properly identify patients at risk for cardiogenic cerebral arterial emobolisation in whom anticoagulation may be beneficial. Journal of Medical Investigation and Practice Vol. 4: 2003: 4-7 |
