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Co-morbidities and socio-demographic distribution of stroke survivors referred for physiotherapy in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital: a retrospective study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The study investigated some co-morbidities, and age, gender and occupational distribution of stroke survivors seen in the Physiotherapy clinic of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria; A 3-year retrospective study (January, 2008 to December, 2010).


PATIENTS AND METHODS
A total of 236 case notes of stroke survivors referred to the Physiotherapy clinic within the period of study were obtained and reviewed.


RESULTS
Majority (50.8%) of the stroke survivors were hypertensive, type 2 diabetes mellitus accounted for 14.8%, HIV 11.4%, chronic renal and heart diseases constituted 8.1% and 3.8% respectively. Those with hperlipidaemia and obesity comprised 3.0% each, and not specified encompassed 5.1%. One hundred and forty-one (59.7%) of the cases seen were males and 95 (40.3%) were females. The average age of the male and female patients were 56.0 ± 15.8 and 49.8 ± 18.8 years respectively. Housewives (31.8%) constituted the highest occupational groups while students (5.9%) were the least.


CONCLUSION
The most common co-morbidities found among the stroke survivors were hypertension (50.8%), diabetes mellitus (14.8%) and HIV (11.4%). Majority of the stroke survivors were at their peak age when they are most economically relevant and productive (below 60 years). This suggests that the disability resulting from stroke will have a great negative impact on quality of life and socio-economic lives of these patients as well as a burden on the society. To alleviate this impact and lessen the societal burden of the disease, the public should be well educated and informed on the importance of seeking prompt and appropriate health care services.