STROKE;

ELECTOCARDIOGRAPHIC CHANGES

Abstract

Objective: (1) To finding the frequency of various electrocardiographic abnormalities in sufferers of
acute stroke (2) Comparing the ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in this perspective. Study design: Observational.
Place and duration of study: Emergency department of Nishtar Hospital, Multan from April 2003 to August 2005.
Patients and methods: Two hundred patients of acute stroke who presented within 48 hours of the onset of
neurological symptoms, were included in the study, irrespective of the comorbid conditions like hypertension, diabetes
mellitus, valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy. Results: Majority of the patients had
ischemic stroke. ECG changes due to variation in heart rate, rhythm ischemia, QTc prolongation and left ventricular
hypertrophy were frequent findings in sufferes of acute stroke. Except atrial fibrillation and left ventricular hypertrophy
these changes were more or less similar in two types of stroke. Conclusion: A variety of electrocardiographic
abnormalities can be found in sufferers of acute stroke. Except atrial fibrillation and left ventricular hypertrophy, there
frequency is more or less similar whatever the type of stroke may be.