Study of electrocardiographic changes in patients with acute cerebrovascular accidents

Abstract

Background: Stroke is “a focal (or at times global) neurological impairment of sudden onset, and lasting more than 24 hours (or leading to death), and of presumed vascular origin. A variety of cardiovascular events like cardiac arrest, arrhythmias, and severe hypotension can be seen in stroke victims. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence and characterization of ECG abnormalities in patients of cerebrovascular accidents.Methods: Study was carried out in Dr. PDMMC and tertiary care hospital Amravati, Maharashtra, India. All acute cerebrovascular accidents patients were the study subjects. The diagnosis of ischemic stroke was confirmed by CT scanning. Pre-validated questionnaire was used for data collection. At the end of the study all the ECG were compared to approach towards the result. Study was carried out over a period of three months from October to December 2020.Results: We have recruited 90 stroke patients, most of them were males. Major type was ischemic stroke. In total 62 (68.89%) stroke patients had some form of ECG change. Majority i.e. 35 (38.89%) patients had QTc prolongation followed by 32 (35.56%) patients had T wave changes. QTc prolongation and Atrial fibrillation were significantly more among hemorrhagic stroke patients (p<0.05) and T wave changes and ST changes (elevation or depression) were significantly more among ischemic stroke patients (p<0.05).Conclusions: Prevalence of ECG abnormalities among stroke patients was more i.e. 68.89%. QTc prolongation and T wave changes were the commonest ECG abnormalities.