Prevalence and pattern of dyslipidemia among patients with ischemic stroke in a tertiary care center in south- south Nigeria

Background: Stroke is a major public health problem worldwide. Dyslipidemia is a significant risk factor for ischemic stroke, but its prevalence and characteristics in this population remain understudied. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the prevalence and patterns of dyslipidemia among individuals diagnosed with ischemic stroke in a tertiary care center in South-South Nigeria.
Materials and Method: This is a retrospective hospital-based study on Ischaemic stroke patients admitted to GoodHeart Medical Consultant Hospital, Port- Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria, from July 2022 to June 2023.
Results: The study comprised 33 subjects consisting of 18(54.5%) males and 15(45.5%) females. The mean age of the total population was 62.6 ± 12.49. The most prevalent age group was elderly (>61 years) 20 (60.6%). The females were older than the males with a mean age of 64.1 ± 2.50 and 61.3 ± 12.69 respectively. The overall prevalence of dyslipidaemia was 97%, whereas the most common form of dyslipidaemia was reduced HDL (57.6%). There was no significant difference in dyslipidaemia among male and female stroke patients, nevertheless 63.6% of the males had dyslipidaemia.
Conclusion: Dyslipidaemia was common in the overall study population particularly reduced HDL and elevated LDL. The study revealed no statistically significant difference between gender and dyslipidaemia in stroke patients, nevertheless dyslipidaemia was more in the male stroke patients than females. Hence, prevention of dyslipidaemia as well as other risk factors is key to reducing the burden of stroke in our country.