Fred Stephen Sarfo1, John Akassi2, Vida Obese2, Sheila Adamu2, Manolo Agbenorku2, Bruce Ovbiagele3. 1. Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. Electronic address: stephensarfo78@gmail.com. 2. Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. 3. Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) is associated with poorer quality of life, higher mortality, and greater health expenditures. We are unaware of any published reports on the frequency of and factors associated with PSE in Africa. PURPOSE: To assess the frequency and factors associated with PSE among Ghanaian stroke survivors. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of consecutive stroke survivors seen at an out-patient Neurology clinic enrolled into a stroke registry at a tertiary medical center in Ghana between January 2018 and March 2020. We collected baseline demographic and clinical details including diagnosis of post-stroke epilepsy, anti-epileptic medications, presence, treatment and control of vascular risk factors. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to identify factors associated with PSE. RESULTS: Of 1101 stroke patients encountered, 126 had PSE (frequency of 11.4%; 95% CI of 9.6-13.5%). Mean (± SD) age among PSE vs. non-PSE patients was 57.7 (± 15.2) vs. 58.7 (± 13.9) years. Factors independently associated with PSE were being male (aOR 1.94; 95% CI: 1.32-2.86), cortical ischemic strokes (1.79; 1.12-2.87), blood pressure > 130/80 mmHg (OR 2.26; 1.06-4.79), use of antihypertensive treatment (OR 0.43; 0.23-0.79). There was an inverted J-shaped curve association between number of classes of antihypertensive drugs prescribed and occurrence of PSE, with the lowest inflection point at 3 classes (OR 0.34; 0.17-0.68). CONCLUSION: In this convenience sample of ambulatory Ghanaian stroke survivors, one in ten had PSE. Further investigations to confirm and clarify the associations between the identified demographic and clinical characteristics are warranted.
BACKGROUND: Post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) is associated with poorer quality of life, higher mortality, and greater health expenditures. We are unaware of any published reports on the frequency of and factors associated with PSE in Africa. PURPOSE: To assess the frequency and factors associated with PSE among Ghanaian stroke survivors. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of consecutive stroke survivors seen at an out-patient Neurology clinic enrolled into a stroke registry at a tertiary medical center in Ghana between January 2018 and March 2020. We collected baseline demographic and clinical details including diagnosis of post-stroke epilepsy, anti-epileptic medications, presence, treatment and control of vascular risk factors. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to identify factors associated with PSE. RESULTS: Of 1101 strokepatients encountered, 126 had PSE (frequency of 11.4%; 95% CI of 9.6-13.5%). Mean (± SD) age among PSE vs. non-PSE patients was 57.7 (± 15.2) vs. 58.7 (± 13.9) years. Factors independently associated with PSE were being male (aOR 1.94; 95% CI: 1.32-2.86), cortical ischemic strokes (1.79; 1.12-2.87), blood pressure > 130/80 mmHg (OR 2.26; 1.06-4.79), use of antihypertensive treatment (OR 0.43; 0.23-0.79). There was an inverted J-shaped curve association between number of classes of antihypertensive drugs prescribed and occurrence of PSE, with the lowest inflection point at 3 classes (OR 0.34; 0.17-0.68). CONCLUSION: In this convenience sample of ambulatory Ghanaian stroke survivors, one in ten had PSE. Further investigations to confirm and clarify the associations between the identified demographic and clinical characteristics are warranted.
Authors: Rajesh N Kalaria; Mayowa O Owolabi; Rufus O Akinyemi; Bruce Ovbiagele; Olaleye A Adeniji; Fred S Sarfo; Foad Abd-Allah; Thierry Adoukonou; Okechukwu S Ogah; Pamela Naidoo; Albertino Damasceno; Richard W Walker; Adesola Ogunniyi Journal: Nat Rev Neurol Date: 2021-09-15 Impact factor: 42.937