PulseExploreJournal ClubDebatesTrendingResearchersJournals
Instagram
HomeExploreJournal ClubTrending
Synapse
⌘+K
Synapse
March 5, 2026BMC Neurology0 citationsOpen Access

Factors associated with stroke among patients with hypertension in Eastern Ethiopia: a case-control study

FMFentahun MeseretAAAyichew AlemuTTTilahun Teshager

Key Result

Increasing age, reduced oxygen saturation, diabetes mellitus, current alcohol consumption, and poor knowledge of hypertension were significantly associated with stroke among hypertensive patients in eastern Ethiopia.

Key Points

  • The study aims to identify risk factors associated with stroke in hypertensive patients in eastern Ethiopia.
  • Conducted a hospital-based case-control design from October 2022 to November 2023.
  • Included adult hypertensive patients with and without strokes as cases and controls.
  • Selected 107 cases and 214 controls using systematic random sampling.
  • Collected data through interviews, physical measurements, and medical record reviews.
  • Analyzed data using Stata version 17 and Epi Data version 4.6.
  • Increasing age is significantly associated with stroke (AOR = 1.05).
  • Low oxygen saturation is linked to lower odds of stroke (AOR = 0.87).
  • Diabetes mellitus is a strong risk factor for stroke (AOR = 2.77).
  • Current alcohol consumption increases the odds of stroke (AOR = 3.48).
  • Poor knowledge of hypertension is associated with decreased odds of stroke (AOR = 0.41).

Study Design

Type

Case-Control (n=321)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

P
Population
321 adult hypertensive patients (107 cases with stroke, 214 controls without stroke) attending public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia. Mean age 62.9 years for cases and 49.8 years for controls. Excluded: <18 years, mentally incompetent, critically ill, pregnant women, and those with fewer than three hypertension follow-up visits.
O
Outcome
Occurrence of stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) diagnosed by a neurologist and confirmed by brain imaging (CT-scan or MRI)hard clinical

Among hypertensive patients in eastern Ethiopia, older age, reduced oxygen saturation, diabetes mellitus, alcohol consumption, and poor knowledge of hypertension are significant independent risk factors for stroke.

Main Result

Effect estimate: AOR 1.05 per year increase in age; AOR 0.87 per 1% increase in oxygen saturation; AOR 2.77 for diabetes mellitus; AOR 3.48 for current alcohol consumption; AOR 0.41 for good knowledge of hypertension (95% CI Age 1.02-1.07; Oxygen saturation 0.78-0.98; Diabetes 1.37-5.60; Alcohol 1.48-8.15; Knowledge 0.21-0.82)

Absolute Event Rate: 107% vs 214%

p-value: p=<0.05 for all reported AORs

Limitations

  • Controls were recruited from hypertensive patients attending public hospitals rather than from the general population, which may introduce selection bias and limit generalizability.
  • Controls were recruited from hospitals rather than the general population, introducing selection bias
  • Unmatched case-control design may leave residual confounding from unmeasured variables
  • Hospital-based nature limits generalizability to the wider community
  • Limited sample size may have reduced statistical power
  • Retrospective design precludes assessment of temporal relationships and causal inferences
  • Self-reported variables subject to recall and social desirability bias
  • Stroke severity at presentation was not systematically captured

Abstract

Stroke is becoming more commonplace worldwide at an incredible pace. Evidence on stroke among hypertensive patients in low-resource settings is limited, and identified risk vary across populations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with stroke among hypertensive patients in eastern Ethiopia. A hospital based case-control study was conducted from October 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023. Adult hypertensive patients with strokes were included as cases, while hypertensive patients without strokes served as controls. Cases and controls were identified through medical record review. In this study, 107 cases and 214 controls were selected by a systematic random sample technique. Data were collected through interviews, physical measurements, and record review. Stata version 17 was used to analyze the data after it was entered into Epi Data version 4.6. Variables with a p-value < 0.25 in bivariate analysis were included in the multivariable logistic regression model. Statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05 using adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The mean age of cases and controls was 62.9 years (SD ± 13.3) and 49.8 years (SD ± 14.7) respectively. Increasing age (AOR = 1.05, 95%CI: 1.02–1.07), low oxygen saturation (AOR = 0.87, 95%CI: 0.76–0.98), diabetes mellitus (AOR = 2.77, 95%CI: 1.37–5.60), current alcohol consumption (AOR = 3.48, 95%CI: 1.48–8.15) and poor knowledge of hypertension (AOR = 0.41, 95%CI: 0.21–0.82) were significantly associated with stroke. Stroke among hypertensive patients was associated with older age, reduced oxygen saturation, diabetes mellitus, alcohol consumption, and poor knowledge of hypertension. Strengthening health education on modifiable risk factors and integrating targeted lifestyle counseling into routine follow-up care are essential for improving primary stroke prevention.

Ask AI
Helpful
Bookmark
Share
View Full Paper

Cite This Study

Meseret et al. (2026) conducted a case-control in Adult hypertensive patients with or without stroke attending public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia (n=321). Increasing age, reduced oxygen saturation, diabetes mellitus, current alcohol consumption, and poor knowledge of hypertension were significantly associated with stroke among hypertensive patients in eastern Ethiopia.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69a91e4cd6127c7a504c21c5https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-026-04776-x
Ask AI
Helpful
Bookmark
Share
View Full Paper