Emerging Trends in Stroke Epidemiology in Indian Women Over the Last Decade
Rajinder Dhamija1, ABHISHEK AGGARWAL2, Alvee Saluja3, Jasmine Parihar4
1Institute of Human Behavior and Allied Sciences New Delhi, 2LHMC, 3LHMC NEW DELHI, 4Lady Hardinge Medical College
Objective:
Temporal trends in clinico-epidemiological parameters of stroke among Indian women have not been studied. We aimed to study the changes in these parameters over the last decade
Background:
Scant literature is available from India regarding the clinico-epidemiologic parameters of stroke among women.. Sociocultural issues might lead to a delay in seeking health care and thrombolysis, leading to poorer stroke outcomes among Indian women. Hence, this study was conducted to understand whether there is any paradigm shift in demographic parameters and other risk factors contributing to both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in Indian women over a 12-year period.
Design/Methods:
417 strokes (ischemic/hemorrhagic) were prospectively recruited in two timelines. In total, 267 strokes were recruited in 2005 while 150 strokes were recruited in 2016–17. Patients underwent stepwise evaluation via a structured proforma. Demographic factors, stroke subtypes, and risk factors were analyzed.
Results:
Female strokes had a higher mean age in 2017 compared to 2005 (60.90 ± 16.9 vs. 53.21 ± 16.75 years, P = 0.002). Hemorrhagic strokes among females increased over the last decade. Female strokes with dyslipidemia were significantly lower in 2017 compared to 2005 (P = 0.002). Proportion of hypertensive and diabetic strokes were not significantly different between these two periods.
Conclusions:
Our study showed that acute stroke (ischemic/hemorrhagic) among Indian women is occurring at a later age. Hemorrhagic stroke among women has increased over the last decade. Furthermore, dyslipidemia among stroke patients has decreased over the past decade. However, hypertension and diabetes prevalence among stroke patients has not decreased significantly and requires urgent strengthening of public health measures.