Abstract
Introduction: Stroke is a dangerous medical condition and a leading cause of death and disability among the elderly. Treatment outcomes and prognosis in stroke patients are influenced by various factors, including pre-hospital management within the community.
Objective: To analyze several factors associated with the outcomes of stroke patients in the community.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 133 stroke patients treated at the Stroke Center, Department of Neurology, Thai Nguyen National Hospital.
Results: The mean age of stroke patients was 56.31 ± 11.79 years; 63.9% were male; 60.9% belonged to the Kinh ethnic group; 63.9% had attained high school education or higher; 59.4% were financially capable of paying for medical expenses. Regarding comorbidities: 52.6% had a history of hypertension, 27.8% had diabetes mellitus, 24.8% had dyslipidemia, and 16.5% had a prior history of stroke. A total of 71.4% of patients were admitted directly to a hospital, with 56.4% going straight to Thai Nguyen National Hospital. There was a significant association between appropriate community-based stroke management and factors such as affordability of medical expenses, living with family members, having a history of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or previous stroke.
Conclusion: The study revealed a significant association (p < 0.05) between appropriate stroke management in the community and several factors, including: the ability to afford healthcare services, cohabitation with family members, a history of chronic conditions (such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ardiovascular diseases, or prior stroke), and especially the early recognition of stroke symptoms by the patient or caregiver.