One of the essential aspects in the approach to vascular brain pathology is the identification and control of risk factors, such as blood hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias.
Objectives: to determine the number of patient in whom high blood pressure and/or non-diagnosed arrhythmias had been previously diagnosed since the Stroke Unit was first created in our hospital.
Methodology: descriptive and retrospective study of the total number of patients admitted to the Stroke Unit of the Cabueñes Hospital (Gijón) during its first six months of operation. A specific data collection form was design to gather study data: diagnosis of type of stroke, high blood pressure, arrhythmias, other previous pathologies and the treatment the patient was on at home.
The data derived from continuous patient monitoring during the three shifts (morning, evening and night) were revised and increased values of high blood pressure above the establish limits were recorded according to type of stroke. The episodes of cardiac arrhythmias were also recorded.
Results: 214 available clinical records from the 219 admitted patients were reviewed. 88% of patients (188) had suffered an ischemic stroke and 12% (26) a hemorrhagic stroke. 14% (30) presented no previously known ECG alterations and 15% (32) exceeded the preset limits of blood pressure. No significant differences were noted between both genders.
Conclusions: arterial blood pressure monitoring and electrocardiogram has enabled us to detect alterations and to take measure in a short period of time to avoid repeated strokes and their sequelae.