The Pattern of Common Cholesterol Fractions in Stroke Patients

Aims/Purpose: The aim of this study was therefore to document the frequency and pattern of serum cholesterol in stroke patients admitted in a tertiary hospital in Enugu.

Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital Enugu. Serum cholesterol levels were classified based on the current international cut off points for people with cardiovascular disease. Statistical analysis of data was carried out using SPSS version 22.

Results: Data from a total of 180 subjects were collected and analyzed. The mean (sd) of serum cholesterol fractions and their distributions are: Low density lipoprotein 2.4± 1.18 mmol/l, High density lipoprotein, 1.17± 0.62 mmol/l, Total Cholesterol, 4.43± 1.34 mmol/l, and triglycerides 1.21±0.77 mmol/L. HDL-cholesterol was significantly lower in patients 50 years and older. P=0.02. A total of 12 (6.7%) of the patients had high levels of LDL, 92(51.1%) had poor levels of HDL. Between stroke types, 10(7.2%) of patients with ischemic stroke had high serum LDL compared to 2(4.8%) with hemorrhagic stroke p= 0.32. Among those with hemorrhagic stroke, 22(52.4%) had poor levels of HDL compared to 70(50.7%) of those with ischemic stroke p= 0.17. Total cholesterol and triglycerides were also found in a higher proportion of those with ischemic stroke than hemorrhagic although these differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusions: There mean level of serum LDL, HDL and TC are higher in stroke patients than recommended values. Current recommended universal use of statins after stroke should be encouraged in both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.