Death-related factors among people admitted with stroke at the Internal Medicine Department of the Dschang Regional Annex Hospital from 2012 to 2022

Abstract

Introduction: Strokes are a major cause of death, particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to estimate mortality and identify factors associated with deaths of patients admitted for stroke to the internal medicine department of the Dschang Regional Annex Hospital from 2012 to 2022.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the medical records of patients admitted for stroke between 2012 and 2022. The cases were patients who died of a stroke, and the controls, those released alive, matched for age and sex. Sampling was consecutive. Factors associated with in-hospital mortality were identified using logistic regression. p<0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Among the 292 records included (138 women, median age 62 years). The median hospital stay was 8 days. In-hospital mortality was 21.6%. A Glasgow coma score ≤ 8 (aOR: 3.65 [ 95% CI 1.1-12.1], p=0.034), a previous stroke (aOR: 3.7 [95% CI 1.2- 11.9], p = 0.02), a pneumonia (aOR: 5.43 [ 95% CI 1.54-19], p= 0.008) and haemorrhagic stroke (aOR: 20.7 [ 95% CI 4.7-90.4], p < 0.001) were associated with deaths.

Conclusion: Mortality among patients with stroke in this study was high and linked to several factors. Screening for, identifying and preventing these factors may help to reduce mortality.