Stroke risk among Nigerians with diabetes and hypertension: A pilot retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Stroke is a leading cause of illness and death worldwide, often leaving survivors with severe disabilities. In sub-Saharan Africa, strokes remain prevalent among individuals with diabetes, hypertension (HTN), or both, significantly impacting the health, social stability, and economic well-being of families and communities. This study aimed to assess the risk of stroke development in Nigerian individuals diagnosed with both diabetes and HTN. The research included diabetic and hypertensive patients who attended the outpatient clinics at Imam Halliru and Imam Wali General Hospitals in Kano between January 2015 and August 2020. Patient data were manually extracted from hospital records. Regression and correlation analyses were conducted to compare the stroke risk between patients with either diabetes or HTN and those with both conditions. Among the 933 participants, 200 exhibited clinical features consistent with the World Health Organization definition of stroke. Of these, 85 (37.5%) had HTN, 67 (33.5%) had diabetes, and 58 (29%) had both conditions. Unemployment, female gender, advanced age, diabetes, and HTN were identified as factors associated with an increased stroke risk in the unadjusted analysis. The findings highlight a significantly higher stroke risk for Nigerians with both diabetes and HTN. Therefore, strict blood pressure control for hypertensive patients and rigorous blood sugar management for diabetic patients is critical.

Keywords

Stroke / Diabetes / Risk / Nigeria

Acknowledgments

None.

Funding

None.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Author contributions

Conceptualization: Abba Musa Abdullahi, Usman Auwalu Isah

Formal analysis: Abba Musa Abdullahi

Investigation: Abba Musa Abdullahi, Usman Auwalu Isah

Methodology: Abba Musa Abdullahi

Writing-original draft: Abba Musa Abdullahi

Writing-review & editing: Usman Auwalu Isah

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was approved by the Health Research Ethics Committee Kano Ministry of Health with the reference number: MOH/Off/797/T.1/2022. The requirement for obtaining informed consent from patients has been waived due to the minimal risk associated with the study.

Consent for publication

The requirement for obtaining informed consent from patients has been waived due to the minimal risk associated with the study.

Availability of data

Data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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