Prevalence and pattern of post-stroke cognitive impairment in Kano, Nigeria

Introduction: Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality and the second most common cause of cognitive impairment.
Objectives: Therefore, this study is aimed at determining the prevalence and pattern of Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment (PSCI) in Kano, Nigeria.
Methods: A total number of 102 stroke survivors were contacted for the study but only seventy (70) of them participated and completed the study. Fifteen (15) patients declined to consent and 17 were excluded due to severe depression evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The participants were assessed for levels of cognitive function and motor recovery using the MMSE and BRS scales, respectively
Results: The results of this study showed that the overall prevalence of PSCI was 67.14% with mild PSCI accounting for 32.86% of cases, while moderate and severe for 27.14% and 7.14% , respectively. Most participants (71.43%) were at the chronic stage of stroke, while in terms of motor recovery, the majority of strokes survivors were at the Brunnstrom Recovery Stage (BRS) 3 (30%) and only 10% were at the final stage of recovery (BRS 6)
Conclusion: Post-stroke cognitive impairment is high in Kano, especially among older stroke survivors with a low level of education and socio-economic status. It is very important to assess PSCI in the clinics to prevent subsequent complications. Future studies should evaluate other stroke outcomes, such as Activities of Daily Living (ADL), community participation and Quality of Life (QoL) as they are related to cognitive function.