Short Term (3 Months) Prognosis of Stroke in Parakou

Background: The burden of stroke is very high in sub-Saharan Africa. The identification of the factors influencing poor outcome can help to reduce this burden. Objective: To study factors influencing the prognosis of stroke at Parakou. Methods: It was a prospective study conducted over two periods: inclusion period between 1st January and 30 June 2013; monitoring period of survivors between 1st July and 30 September. All consecutive patients admitted in the hospitals for stroke in the study period were included. The functional outcomes were assessed by the RANKIN scale (RANKIN > 2). Epi-info version 7 and SPSS version 16 were used for the statistical analyses. Results: We recruited 85 patients; mean age was 52 ± 15 years. The housewives and the unschooled represented respectively 33% and 65%. The mortality rates at 1 and 3 month were respectively 27% and 32%. Factors associated with mortality were female gender, stroke severity, disorders of consciousness, hyperthermia and hyperglycemia at admission, overweight, pneumonia, anemia, hyperleucocytosis, higher total and LDL serum cholesterol levels at 1 month; housewife status and pneumonia were associated at 3 month. 47% of survivors were independent at 1 month. Stroke severity and length of hospital stay were associated with disability at 1 month whereas previous stroke and disability history, stroke severity, weight and length of hospital stay were related with 3 month poor functional outcome. Conclusion: This study showed the poor outcome of stroke patients in Parakou which were influenced by many factors. Taking account of these factors in the strategies of care in the acute phase may improve the prognosis of stroke patients.