Clinico Investigatory Profile of Acute Stroke - A Prospective Longitudinal Study along Sea Coast Population of Rural South India

Introduction: Stroke is the incoming epidemic of 21st century. Approximately 55 million people had a stroke at some time in the past. In the case of stroke, "Tissue is Brain.? Understanding the clinico-investigative profile of stroke will effectively guide health care professionals to treat patients of stroke. In this study we tried to explore the clinico-investigatory profile in acute stroke patients. Materials and Methods: Current study is a prospective longitudinal study on a total of 653 acute stroke patients presenting to the departments of Neurology, Emergency medicine of Narayana Medical college , over a period of 2 years ( April 2018 to March 2020). Results: Out of 653 acute stroke patients, motor weakness was the major symptom (54.82%), followed by deviation of mouth (47.17%) that are mostly non progressive. Median length of hospital stay was six days. Aphasia (50.69%), Dysarthria (50%), facial weakness (47.17%) were the major examination findings. Majority of the patients had mild GCS (74.4%) at admission. Major laboratory abnormality noted were as follows- abnormal 2D Echo (61.4%), haemodynamically significant doppler finding (59.26%) and fasting glucose (58.81%). NL ratio was low in 302 patients (46.3%). Out of the 564 ischemic stroke patients, most common pathology was small vessel occlusion (43.3%) while out of 79 hemorrhagic stroke patients most common site of bleed was capsuloganglionic (55%). In hospital stroke complications were dominated by aspiration pneumonia (12.4%), sepsis (7.81%) and bed sores (4.13%) Conclusions: Ischemic stroke is the most common acute stroke with motor weakness as the predominant symptom and most of the symptoms are non progressive in nature. More than 50% of the patients have abnormal 2D echo, Doppler and fasting glucose levels. Aspiration pneumonia is the most common in hospital complication. The knowledge about the clinico-investigatory profile helps the physician with better evaluation, treatment and prognostication. Hence, Understanding this profile is of cardinal importance for a better outcome.