Deaths in the hospital and their causes among adult stroke patients: A review of patient records

What is it about?

Ischemic stroke is a major cause of death and long-term disability around the world. However, in Eastern Ethiopia, there is very little research on how many patients die in the hospital from stroke and what factors increase this risk. This study was done to understand how often patients die in the hospital and what factors are linked to these deaths among adults with ischemic stroke in public hospitals in the Harari region. We reviewed medical records of 292 patients who were treated for ischemic stroke in public hospitals in the Harari region between July 2019 and June 2024. Out of 292 patients, 190 (65%) improved, 13 (4%) were discharged with complications, 32 (about 11%) died, and 57 (about 20%) left the hospital against medical advice. Overall, the death rate was 7.42 per 1000 person-months. About one in nine patients with ischemic stroke died during their hospital stay. Patients were more likely to die if they had diabetes, kidney disease, aspiration pneumonia (a lung infection caused by inhaling food or fluids), or a low level of consciousness (poor Glasgow Coma Scale score). Early screening and close follow-up of high-risk patients are important to reduce mortality.

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Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash

Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash