Health Problem and Complication among Patients with Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke: Comparative Study

Abstract

Background: Stroke is the third ranking cause of death, with an overall mortality rate of 18 % to 37 %. There are approximately two million people surviving strokes that need assistance with activities of daily living. Stroke is the second leading cause of disability, after dementia. Disability may include loss of vision and / or speech, paralysis and confusion.

Methods: A Comparative Descriptive Study is carried out in Al-Najaf City/Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf Health Directorate/ at Middle Euphrates Neuroscience Center, from 13^th March to 10^th December, 2022, in order to assess the health problem and complication for ischemic versus hemorrhagic stroke. A non-probability (purposive sample) of 82 patients (53 with ischemic stroke and 29 with hemorrhagic stroke). The information is gathered using a constructed questionnaire, which is divided into three sections: (1) Patients' Demographic data. (2) Clinical data from patients (3) Stroke complication. The questionnaire's validity is assessed by a panel of ten specialists with more than ten years of expertise in the nursing field. The data was statistically characterized and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis methodologies..

Results: The study results indicate that the both type of stroke have pneumonia, epileptic seizures, painful shoulder, joint contracture, constipation, and  dysphagia. These results may appear because of the impaired brain functions due to stroke or because of the immobility results from the hemiplegia or the hemiparesis.

Conclusion: the study concluded that the both type of stroke increased as the age group increases and patients who live in urban regions are more likely to suffer a stroke than those who live in rural areas.

Recommendations: the study recommends that a further studies should be conducted to involve a large sample size at a national level to obviously determine the health problem and complication for patients with ischemic versus hemorrhagic stroke.