Subtype and Severity of Stroke at Presentation in Subjects with and without Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Background: Although diabetes is a strong risk factor for stroke, it is still unclear whether stroke subtype and severity at presentation are different in patients with and without diabetes. Objective: The objective of the study was to identify the subtype and severity of stroke at presentation in diabetic versus nondiabetic subjects in our population. Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in the Departments of Neurology and Medicine, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, Sylhet, from July 2011 to December 2011. Forty-seven stroke patients with diabetes and 47 nondiabetic patients with stroke were included in the study. Results: The mean age of the patients of the diabetic group was lower than the nondiabetic group (60.4 [standard deviation (SD) ± 10.5] vs. 65.4 [SD ± 10.3], P< 0.05), but there was no sex difference between the two groups. Hypertension and stroke severity was more in diabetics (Scandinavian Stroke Scale: 21.2 vs. 28.1, P< 0.001). Ischemic stroke was significantly more in the diabetic group than that of the nondiabetic group (83.0% vs. 59.6%, P< 0.01). Subtypes of hemorrhagic stroke and ischemic stroke were almost similar in both the diabetic and nondiabetic groups. Conclusion: Stroke in diabetic patients is different from stroke in nondiabetic patients in several aspects. The diabetic stroke patient is younger, ischemic stroke and stroke severity is more, but hemorrhagic stroke is less in diabetic individuals.