Prevalence and major cardiac causes of cardio-embolic stroke and in-hospital mortality in Eastern Nepal

Abstract

Background: Cardioembolism accounts for 15%–30% of all ischemic strokes. The study aims to assess conventional and major cardiac causes of cardio-embolic stroke, its prevalence, lesions associated with the side of weakness, and in-hospital mortality. Materials and Methods: Patients with cardio-embolic stroke over 18 months were included in the study. Groups were compared using Chi-square test and Student's t-test. Results: In 384 patients with ischemic stroke, 168 (44%) had a cardio-embolic stroke. Among these 168 cardio-embolic patients, 56% were male and 44% female with a mean age of 69 ± 1 year. Dyslipidemia (72%), hypertension (69%), smoking (34%), and diabetes (33%) were the most prevalent conventional cardiovascular risk factors in these patients. Atrial fibrillation (AF) (71%) was the most common specific cardiac cause for cardio-embolic stroke. Hypertension was present in more than 76%, while dyslipidemia in 66% of patients with AF. Seventeen patients (10%) had in-hospital mortality, while nine (5%) left the hospital against medical advice. The in-hospital mortality rates were not different in AF patients as compared to those with sinus rhythm (59% vs. 41%,P = 0.225). However, patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤50% had a higher rate of mortality when compared to patients with normal ejection fraction (P < 0.001). Patients with AF had a higher incidence of left-sided weakness when compared to sinus rhythm (P = 0.049). Conclusion: Hypertension and dyslipidemia were the most prevalent conventional risk factors, while AF was the most common cardiac cause of cardio-embolic stroke. Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction less than 50% was significant predictor of in-hospital mortality in cardio-embolic stroke patients.