Epidemiological, Clinical and Radiological Profiles of Post-stroke Aphasia in Neurology in Abidjan from April to September 2022

Abstract

Background and purpose: Aphasia is a language disorder that frequently occurs after a cerebrovascular accident. This prospective descriptive study aimed to describe the epidemiological, clinical and radiological profiles of post-stroke aphasia. Materials and method: Patients presenting aphasia after a stroke documented by brain imaging, hospitalized from April to September 2022 in the neurology departments of the Cocody and Treichville University Hospitals were included. Aphasia was screened using the Language Screening Test (LAST). Epidemiological, clinical and radiological data were collected through clinical observation. Results: Of the 217 stroke patients admitted to neurology during the period, 32 presented aphasia (14.7%). The average age was 56 years, with a male predominance (M/F sex ratio of 2.2). The majority of patients had primary or no schooling (87.5%). Arterial hypertension was the most frequent cardiovascular risk factor (50%) and hemiplegia, the most common physical sign (93.8%). The average LAST score for aphasic patients was 5.3 out of 15. We observed that naming and repetition were the most affected components of speaking, with scores below normal in 87.5%. and 88% of cases. Regarding oral comprehension, order execution was the component most affected for 75.1% of patients. In the acute phase of stroke, 50% of cases of aphasia were severe. Radiologically, 75% of patients presented an ischemic stroke with the predilection of the middle cerebral artery. Conclusion: this study highlights the importance of early detection of aphasia in post-stroke patients and rapid treatment to optimize their linguistic recovery.