Metabolic Syndrome In Acute Stroke Survivors At Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital

ABSTRACT Background: The presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been associated with an increased risk of stroke. The indicators of MetS that predispose individuals to stroke still persist after stroke. There is insufficient information on MetS in acute ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke survivors at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Aim: This study assessed metabolic syndrome in acute stroke survivors at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Method: This was a cross-sectional study involving patients at the Medical ward, Stroke unit and Polyclinic of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) between October 2014 and April 2015. A total of 150 (73 males and 77 females) stroke survivors comprising 102 (68%) ischaemic stroke survivors and 48 (32%) haemorrhagic stroke survivors were sampled for the study. The National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criterion was used for defining MetS. Results: The incidence of MetS among the study population was 60% using the NCEP ATP III criteria. Out of the 60% with MetS, the prevalence was significantly higher in ischaemic stroke patients compared to haemorrhagic stroke patients (43.3% vs 16.7%; p=0.0185). The prevalence of MetS was significantly higher in Ischaemic patients than Haemorrhagic stroke survivors (68% vs 32%; p=0.0005). The prevalence of MetS was higher in female stroke survivors compared to male stroke survivors but was not statistically significant (34.7% vs 25.3%; p=0.3398). The frequency of MetS was significantly higher in the age group of 50-60 years compared to others (p