Clinical profile of stroke:: The experience at King Abdulaziz University Hospital.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the pattern and risk factors of stroke in Saudi nationals and non-Saudis, at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), in the western province of Saudi Arabia.

METHOD: All cases of stroke admitted to KAUH in the period between January 1995 and December 1999 were studied. Demographic data of the patients, stroke types, risk factors and mortality were reported.

RESULTS: Of the 103 patients studied, 56% were Saudis and 44 % non-Saudis with male predominance and mean ages of 66 and 62 years respectively. In Saudis, the stroke types were 74% ischemic, 10% hemorrhagic and 16% unspecified, whereas in non-Saudis, the figures were respectively 62%, 29% and 9%. The frequency of stroke increased steadily with age in Saudis but dropped after the sixth decade in non-Saudis. There was no significant difference between the Saudis and the non-Saudis in the occurrence of risk factors for stroke or in mortality.

CONCLUSION: The pattern and risk factors of cases of stroke treated at KAUH are similar to those reported from other regions of Saudi Arabia and other parts of the world.