A Retrospective Review of Stroke Cases in Okposi General Hospital, Ohaozara Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria: A 5-Year Analysis (2019-2023)

• Author(s): Cosmas Nnadozie Ezejindu ; Ugwueke Ifeoma Vivian ; Martin Chinemerem Onuigbo ; Linda Chidinma Chukwuemeka-ANI
• Paper ID: 1708916
• Page: 1707-1717
• Published Date: 16-06-2025
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 8 Issue 9 March-2025

Abstract

Background: Stroke continues to pose a significant global health burden, ranking among the leading causes of death and long-term disability. Its growing incidence in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in rural communities with limited access to preventive and therapeutic services, highlights an urgent public health concern. In Nigeria, the burden of stroke is compounded by a dual challenge of rising noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, alongside persistent infectious conditions like tuberculosis. Methods A retrospective research design was used.. A proforma was used to gather the data that was assessed from the Okposi General Hospital from 2019 – 2023. This retrospective study was conducted to examine the frequency, demographic patterns, clinical presentations, and associated risk factors of stroke over a five-year period at Okposi General Hospital in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Results A total of 314 stroke cases were identified between January 2019 and December 2023. The hospital witnessed a notable increase in the annual frequency of stroke cases, from 10.2% in 2019 to 32.5% in 2023, suggesting a growing trend likely linked to both population health transitions and improved diagnosis. The majority of cases were recorded among individuals aged 60 to 79 years, accounting for over 60% of the cohort, and males were more commonly affected than females (67.5% vs. 32.5%). Strikingly, 77.7% of patients were overweight, underscoring the possible contribution of poor lifestyle habits and metabolic syndrome to stroke risk. Ischemic stroke was the most common subtype, comprising 57.6% of cases, followed by hemorrhagic stroke (30.9%) and transient ischemic attacks (11.5%). Clinical symptoms at presentation were often multifaceted, with memory loss (28.3%), speech difficulty (27.7%), and blurred vision (27.4%) being the most frequent. The presence of underlying medical conditions was prevalent: diabetes mellitus (39.8%), hypertension (34.7%), and tuberculosis (25.8%) featured prominently as comorbidities. Conclusion The findings from this study suggest that stroke incidence is rising within this rural Nigerian setting, especially among older, overweight males with existing noncommunicable or infectious diseases. These data highlight the need for integrated screening, prevention, and early intervention programs tailored to rural populations. Moreover, they emphasize the significance of reinforcing public health education, community-based risk assessment, and affordable chronic disease management to curb the stroke epidemic in low-resource settings.

Keywords

Retrospective, Review, Stroke, Cases, General Hospital

Citations

IRE Journals:
Cosmas Nnadozie Ezejindu , Ugwueke Ifeoma Vivian , Martin Chinemerem Onuigbo , Linda Chidinma Chukwuemeka-ANI "A Retrospective Review of Stroke Cases in Okposi General Hospital, Ohaozara Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria: A 5-Year Analysis (2019-2023)" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 8 Issue 9 2025 Page 1707-1717

IEEE:
Cosmas Nnadozie Ezejindu , Ugwueke Ifeoma Vivian , Martin Chinemerem Onuigbo , Linda Chidinma Chukwuemeka-ANI "A Retrospective Review of Stroke Cases in Okposi General Hospital, Ohaozara Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria: A 5-Year Analysis (2019-2023)" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 8(9)