A cross-sectional study of impact of dyslipidemia in stroke

Abstract

Background: Stroke is defined as abrupt onset of symptoms and/or sign of focal and global loss of cerebral function lasting for at least 24 hrs with no apparent cause other than of vascular origin. Dyslipidemia in stroke is not widely studied especially from the population of Northeast India (Manipur). Moreover, most prior studies did not specifically compare hemorrhagic stroke risk among those with elevated lipid levels to those with optimal or near optimal lipid levels. Therefore, we studied the levels of different Lipids in stroke patients (hemorrhagic and ischemic) to understand its role in pathogenesis of stroke. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in RIMS, Manipur from 2017-2019 and included 185 patients above 18 years with stroke within 48 hrs of onset of symptoms. NCCT brain and serum lipids, other related blood investigations were performed.Results: We found that serum total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglycerides are significantly higher in infarction patients with average levels of 210.82 mg/dl, 143.64 mg/dl and 151.50 mg/dl respectively which is statistically significant (p<0.001). The average serum total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglycerides are significantly lower in ICH patients with average levels of 143.34 mg/dl, 84.67 mg/dl and 113.94 mg/dl respectively which is statistically significant. (p<0.001).Conclusions: We concluded that raised level of serum total cholesterol, serum LDL-C, serum triglyceride are associated with cerebral infraction (p=0.001) and lower level of serum total cholesterol, serum LDL-C, serum triglyceride are associated with cerebral hemorrhage (p=0.001). Thus, serum lipid levels should be carefully monitored to prevent life threatening stroke.