[Acute cerebrovascular disease in the Northern Cordoba Health Area].

INTRODUCTION

Its high rates of prevalence, mortality and disability make acute cerebrovascular disease (ACVD) a priority health problem. It is as the second most common cause of admission to internal medicine services.

AIMS: To examine inpatient care for ACVD during 2004 in the Valle de los Pedroches health area in the province of Cordoba, as well as survival at six months, so as to be able to carry out the changes needed to improve the attention offered for this condition.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A longitudinal study of the acute phase of the illness and survival at six months was conducted by means of face-to-face interviews.

RESULTS

The prevalence of arterial hypertension (75.5%) stands out as a risk factor. The mean age was higher than in other series. There is no characteristic profile of clinical symptoms. The proportion of ischaemic to haemorrhagic strokes falls within the normal range. All 110 patients were submitted to a cranial computerised axial tomography scan in less than three hours. A compromised level of consciousness, senility, haemorrhagic stroke, poorer scoring on the Canadian Neurological Scale and complications all affected mortality rates. The study showed that 20% died while in hospital and 19.1% at six months. At discharge, 30.9% were undergoing rehabilitation. The spouse was the main caregiver in 55.5% of cases. A total of 79% had sequelae at six months.

CONCLUSIONS

Instruments that allow fast effective diagnoses and treatments and guarantee proper clinical practice while reducing brain damage and its dependence should be made generally available. Improving primary and secondary prevention is essential in order to halt the progression of ACVD.