Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify for the first time, the characteristics of stroke patients in Jordan. In this retrospective study, the case records of 1,287 stroke patients admitted to Al-basher Hospital during a three-year period were reviewed. The stroke patient cohort included 60% men and 40% women. The mean age for men was 59.5±9.7 and 58.95±10.7 for women. Three quarters of all stroke patients were diagnosed as having ischemic strokes and 14% were diagnosed as having haemorrhagic. The most common risk factors were high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. The present data established important information about stroke characteristics in Jordanian hospitals. There was missing information in patients’ records which made it difficult to calculate important epidemiological data which is necessary to plan for and provide better services for patients. This study has demonstrated the need for further research to explore reasons for inadequacies in services and to identify the best way of fully recording accurate information in developing countries.

Key words: Stroke patients, developing countries, government hospitals, stroke type, risk factors, demographic characteristics.