CLINICAL PROFILE OF INTRA-CEREBRAL HAEMORRHAGIC STROKE PATIENTS IN AN ETHNIC POPULATION OF NORTH INDIA.

Introduction:Given the high prevalence of Intra Cerebral Haemorrhage (ICH) in the Kashmir Valley, an associated very high morbidity and mortality and the scarcity of studies from our part of the world, it becomes relevant and prudent to study the clinical parameters of ICH in our Valley which in turn would potentially be translated into preventive measures. Aim: We aimed to study various clinico-biochemical parameters of the ICH patients in our region. Methodology: We studied 150 consecutive ICH patients admitted to our hospital, including their age, gender, blood pressures, NCCTs and ICH scores, using a pretested, semi-structured questionnaire to collect the information. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS software (V.11.5). Results:The majority of ICH patients belonged to a higher age group (46% above age > 60 years and 38.6% in age range 40-60 years). There was no significant difference between the occurrence of ICH in males vs females (p value < 0.05). Hypertension was a major association of ICH with more than two-thirds of patients being hypertensive (75.33%). Non- Lobar ICH (72%) was much more common than the Lobar ICH (28%), with former being more significantly associated with underlying Hypertension and later with advancing age. Conclusion:ICH, a major health burden in our community is highly associated with Hypertension. Since Hypertension in itself has an unusually high prevalence in the Valley, so a relevant intervention would provide potential primary preventive measure to decrease the burden of ICH in our community.