Epidemiological profile of stroke in Qatar: Insights from a seven-year observational study

• Published in: Journal of clinical neuroscience Vol. 123; pp. 30 - 35
• Main Authors: Bhutta, Zain A., Akhtar, Naveed, Pathan, Sameer A., Castren, Maaret, Harris, Tim, Ganesan, Gowrii S., Kamran, Saadat, Thomas, Stephen H., Cameron, Peter A., Azad, Aftab M., Puolakka, Tuukka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2024
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cerebral Hemorrhage - epidemiology; Cerebral Hemorrhage - therapy; Cerebrovascular diseases; Epidemiology; Female; Humans; Ischemic Stroke - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Middle East; Prevalence; Qatar; Qatar - epidemiology; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Stroke; Stroke - epidemiology; Stroke - therapy; Qatar; Middle East; Stroke; Cerebrovascular diseases; Epidemiology; Qatar
• ISSN: 0967-5868; 1532-2653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2024.03.014

•The incidence of stroke in Qatar is lower than in most Western countries.•The Non-Qatari population is younger, with more ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes.•Use of ambulance services is high in Qatar, especially in Non-Qatari population.•Higher prevalence of diabetes in the region as compared to the western population.•Thrombolysis rates in Qatar are higher with shorter door-to-needle times. Stroke prevalence is progressively increasing in developing countries due to increased vascular risk factors. This study aims to describe the epidemiology, prevalent risk factors, and outcomes of stroke in a multi-ethnic society of Qatar. We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients with suspected stroke admitted to stroke services between January 2014 and September 2020. A total of 11,892 patients were admitted during this period with suspected stroke. Of these, the diagnosis was ischemic stroke (48.8 %), transient ischemic attack (10.3 %), intracerebral hemorrhage (10.9 %), cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (1.3 %), and stroke mimics (28.6 %). The median age was 52 (43–62), with a male–female ratio of 3:1. The study population was predominantly Asian (56.8 %) and Arab (36 %). The majority of the patients were hypertensive (66.8 %), diabetic (47.9 %), and dyslipidemic (45.9 %). A history of prior stroke was observed in 11.7 %, while 0.9 % had prior transient ischemic attack. Among ischemic strokes, 31.7 % arrived within 4.5 h, 12.5 % received thrombolysis, and 4.6 % underwent thrombectomy. Median Door-to-Needle time was 51 (33–72) minutes. The average length of stay was 5.2 ± 9.0 days, with 71.5 % discharged home, 13.8 % transferred to rehabilitation, 9.3 % to other specialties, 3 % to long-term care, and 2.4 % suffered in-hospital mortality. Stroke in Qatar is characterized by a younger, expatriate-dominant cohort, with notable prevalence of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and a distinct risk factor profile. Further analysis of epidemiological differences among different population groups can inform targeted policies for prevention and management to reduce the burden of disease.