Burden, Clinical Outcomes and Predictors of Stroke in Hospital Mortality among Adult Patients Admitted to Stroke Unit of Jimma University Medical Center: Prospective Cohort Study
Abstract Background: Global burden of stroke epidemiology is changing rapidly. Over the 1990–2013 period, there was a significant increase in the absolute number of deaths and incident events of stroke. The burden of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke varies between regions and over time in Ethiopia. The paucity of data has limited research output and consequently the response to this burden in our country. Methods: Prospective cohort study was carried at stroke unit of Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC) from March 10- July 10, 2017. The outcome of interest was mortality and time to death. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Multivariable Cox regression was used to identify the predictors of in hospital mortality and time to death from hospital arrival. Predictor variables with P< 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 116 eligible stroke patients were followed with the mean age of 55.1+14.0 years and males comprised of 73 (62.9%) with male: female ratio of 1.70:1. Stroke accounted for 16.5 % of total medical admissions and 23.6 % of the total cases of in hospital mortality. A total of 91 (78.4%) of patients were discharged being alive making in hospital mortality of rate of 25 (21.6%). The median time of in hospital mortality after admission and length of hospital stay of the patients was 4.38 days and 9.21 days, respectively. The prominent suspected immediate cause for in hospital mortality was increased intracranial pressure 17 (68.0%) followed by respiratory failure secondary to aspiration pneumonia 11 (44.0%). Brain edema (AHR: 6.27, 95% CI: 2.50-15.76), urine incontinence (AHR: 3.48, 95% CI: 1.48-8.17), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) >13 during hospital arrival (AHR: 22.58, 95% CI: 2.95-172.56) and diagnosis of stroke clinically alone (AHR: 4.96, 95% CI: 1.96-12.54) were the independent predictors of in hospital mortality. Conclusions: The mortality of stroke in this set up was similar to other low- and middle-resource countries. There should be burning need to establish and strengthen the available stroke units which are well-equipped and staffed with intensive health care teams in different hospitals across the country.