Abstract

Background and Purpose: Patients with ischemic (IS) and hemorrhagic strokes (HS) in Sohag were compared to reveal possible differences regarding risk factors, presentations, stroke severity, laboratory and radiological findings.

 

Methods: Hospital-based, retrospective study including 358 patients diagnosed with first ever stroke by clinical and imaging tools, aged ≥45 years. Basic demographic information was recorded. All the patients were subjected to complete history, neurological and medical evaluation and laboratory investigations for identification of symptoms of stroke and to detect stroke risk factors. Stroke severity was determined using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and NIHSS.

 

Results: Our study has shown that age of first-ever stroke is significantly higher in IS than in HS and smoking among males favor IS rather than HS. Hypertension favored HS than IS, especially in those with hypertension firstly discovered with the onset of stroke, however hypertensive patients who were not compliant for antihypertensive therapy are more risky to develop IS. The present study has shown that, sex, DM, hyperlipidemia, IHD, AF, drug abuse and family history of stroke did not herald stroke type. Sensory deficits are more frequently elicited in patients with IS, vomiting and hiccough in HS. Strokes are more severe in patients with HS (determined by GCS and NIHSS). Also, we have found that patients with HS have lower serum sodium and more enhanced haemostatic function. Among the radiological data we have found that the presence of leukoaraiosis and bilateral lesions in the brain CT favored IS rather than HS. 

 

Conclusion: certain differences are found between ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes regarding the clinical presentation, stroke severity, risk factors and laboratory findings, this may help to differentiate between both types of stroke till the imaging tools and radiological data are available. Particular factors can be considered as pointers for serious events that could predict patients at high-risk for developing either types of stroke.