Association between HBA1C and NIHSS score in stroke

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus is a very common metabolic disorder and it is an independent risk factor for stroke and is associated with 2 to 6 fold increased risk compared with non-diabetic subjects and worsens survival of patients with acute stroke. Glucose intolerance or even fasting hyperglycemia may follow an acute vascular event, and ensuing physical inactivity and poor food intake may lead to continued glucose intolerance. Glucose intolerance in a stroke patient may or may not reflect glycemia prior to the event. Measurement of HbA1C rather than glucose as an indicator of prior glycemia offers a new perspective. Hence this study is to find out association between HbA1c levels with NIHSS score in stroke. To find out association between HbA1c levels with NIHSS score in stroke. This a cross sectional descriptive study. In this study well controlled Diabetes has moderate stroke severity, fairly controlled Diabetes has moderate to severe stroke severity and poorly controlled Diabetes has severe stroke. It is observed that severity of the presenting complaints worsened from well controlled Diabetes to poorly controlled Diabetes. The NIHSS score correlates with the HbA1C, with increase in severity of the stroke from well controlled Diabetes to poorly controlled Diabetes. Severity of the score increases as the infarct size increases. Poorly controlled Diabetes has more severe stroke as per NIHSS score with large sized infarcts. Stroke is a medical emergency and can cause permanent neurological damage, complications and death. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a well-validated, reliable scoring system for use specifically with stroke patients. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) can be used as a standard measurement instrument by physicians to evaluate the severity of a patient and outcome.