ECG patterns and three months outcomes in patients admitted with new onset stroke at Muhimbili National Hospital.

Abstract

Background Stroke is on the rise in Tanzania with great impact on morbidity and mortality. One of the factors associated with poor outcome among stroke patients are some abnormal electrocardiographic (ECG) changes resulting from massive autonomic discharge along the sympathetic outflow tracts of the nervous system that interferes with cardiac autonomic control. This study aimed at determining the ECG patterns among new onset stroke patients and their clinical outcomes in terms of morbidity and mortality at 3 months. Objective To determine ECG patterns and three months outcomes of patients admitted with new onset stroke at Muhimbili National Hospital. Methodology This was a descriptive follow up study conducted at the Muhimbili National Hospital in-patient neurology units. We enrolled 160 patients with new onset stroke regardless of its type. All eligible patients who consented for the study underwent 12 lead resting ECGs. These patients were then followed up at 1 month and 3 months from the day of enrollment for determination of their survival/morbidity and mortality outcomes. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the socio-demographics of the study population in terms of frequencies. Chi-square test was used to compare proportions of different ECG patterns, type of stroke, and outcomes in terms of mortality or survival in 1 month and 3 months of follow up. Multivariate analysis was used to control for confounding factors on socio-demographic characteristics and ECG patterns as related to the outcomes.