ASSOCIATION OF DIABETES MELLITUS WITH STROKE: A HOSPITAL-BASED CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Stroke is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Globally, stroke is the second leading cause of death above the age of 60 years and the fifth leading cause of death in people aged 15-59 years old. In addition to specific complications of diabetes mellitus like nephropathy, retinopathy, etc., some other non-specific complications, notably coronary artery disease and stroke are also increasing in frequency in diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a case-control study conducted from Feb-2016 to Apr-2016 (3 months). Study was done among stroke patients aged 20 years and above hospitalized in TMMC and RC, Moradabad, UP, Age and gender matched control subjects were selected among neurologically healthy people who were admitted for other ailments in this hospital. Sample size was 312 people containing 156 cases and 156 controls. Statistical analysis was done using Med Calc Version 12.7.5.0 software. Chi-square test was used as test of significance and p value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. OBSERVATION Male: Female ratio among the cases and control was 1.51: 1. Mean age of cases and controls were 51.30 +/- 11.13 and 51.93 +/- 14.60. Out of 156 cases, 77 (49.36%) were suffering from Diabetes mellitus, while only 46 (29.48%) controls were having diabetes mellitus. P value was 0.0003, which is highly significant. CONCLUSION In the present hospital-based case-control study, diabetes mellitus was found to be a significant risk factor in patients with stroke. Risk factor assessment is an important step towards better understanding of pathogenesis, prevention and control of stroke. RECOMMENDATIONS Physicians caring for patients at risk for stroke should be vigilant for diabetes as well as other concurrent stroke risk factors like hypertension, dyslipidaemia, heart diseases, etc., that tend to cluster with diabetes. Lifestyle modification and non-pharmacological as well as pharmacological interventions for the modifiable risk factors should form an integral aspect of patient care. The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing globally, particularly in developing countries. Previously, diabetes mellitus Type 2 was disease of middle aged and elderly, but recently it is affecting younger age group including adolescents especially in the high risk population.