Background:

Hypertension, age, and gender are relevant factors associated to cerebrovascular disease. In Paraguay, cerebrovascular disease is the fourth cause of mortality; however, information about demographic and baseline characteristics are not widely knowledge. Our aim was to determinate the prevalence of hypertension, age, and gender in the setting of acute phase stroke in our population.

Methods:

This is a descriptive, single-center study. Data were collected from a prospective registry of stroke patients admitted in the stroke unit of our center, from April 2015 to December 2016.

Results:

From 996 stroke patients, 252 (25.3%) presented intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). 390 (39.1%) were female. The hypertension rate was 74% and 78% in ischemic stroke and ICH, respectively, being hypertensive hemorrhagic etiology, 79.5% of the ICH and lacunar infarct 11.6% of ischemic strokes. In ICH patients, mean age differences between genders were remarkable (mean years 55.41 [standard deviation (SD) ± 14.8] vs. 62.48 [SD ± 15.2], p ≤ 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, lower age than 60 years old (odds ratio [OR]: 4.893; confidence interval [CI] 95%: 1.772-13.509, p = 0.029) and higher systolic blood pressure at admission (OR: 1.098; CI 95% 1.044-1.155, p = 0.009) were independent factors associated to ICH.

Conclusion:

In our population, ICH rates are similar to regional findings, occurring an early age than other series, being remarkable in males. Hypertension rates in ischemic stroke and ICH are higher than other series and the variability of presumed hypertensive microangiopathy phenotype could be in relation to age (hypertensive hemorrhage vs. lacunar). These findings would be related to ethnic, social, environment, and geographic factors.