Abstract Details

Title Awareness Regarding Stroke Amongst Community-Dwelling Elderly Hypertensives in a Rural Area of Bangalore District, Karnataka State, India

Topic General Neurology

Presentation(s) S21 - Neuroepidemiology (5:06 PM-5:18 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 009

Objective To assess the awareness regarding stroke amongst elderly hypertensives residing in a rural
area of Bangalore district, Karnataka state, India.

Background Hypertension is an important risk factor for cerebrovascular accidents. India faces a high
and growing burden of hypertension. Elderly persons are particularly vulnerable, since the
prevalence of hypertension increases with age. The devastating impact of stroke makes it
essential that patients seek immediate care. Poor awareness contributes to delay in seeking
health care. Literature regarding awareness in this important sub group of the population is
scarce, which prompted this study.

Design/Methods 144 elderly hypertensives residing in a rural area in Bangalore district were selected
randomly from a list of known hypertensives maintained as part of a population-based
senior citizen health service. An open-ended, face-validated questionnaire was developed,
tested and administered following informed consent to assess awareness of stroke.

Results 40% of the study population had not heard of the term ‘stroke’. Only 22% could identify the
brain as the organ affected. 51% could name at least one symptom, with paralysis being the
most commonly named. 45% of males and 24% of females believed that their hypertension
predisposed them to stroke. 56% could not name a single risk factor for stroke. Only 37% of
the males and 18% of the females had good overall awareness. Greater age, female gender
& low literacy were associated with poor overall awareness, while being gainfully employed
and doing higher levels of exercise were associated with greater awareness.

Conclusions Awareness of different aspects of stroke was very poor among elderly hypertensives in this
rural community-based study, highlighting the need for and suggesting the content of
education regarding stroke at all levels of care. This will be an important first step towards
improving the appropriate and timely management of this major problem.

Authors/Disclosures
Vivek Bhat PRESENTER	Mr. Bhat has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file

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