Outcome between Diabetic versus Non-Diabetic Acute Stroke in a Black African Population: A Cohort Study

Background: Post-stroke outcomes are poorer in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of DM in acute stroke and to compare the outcome in patients with or without diabetes in a tertiary care hospital in Douala, Cameroon. Methods: This was a hospital-based prospective cohort study included both diabetic and non-diabetic acute stroke patients (ASP). Demographic, clinical profile and outcome data was collected within 3 months of stroke onset. Descriptive statistics, t-test and chi square test used for comparisons while associations between DM and stroke outcomes, were analyzed using multiple logistic regression and survival analysis. Results: Of the 701 ASP included, the overall prevalence of diabetes in stroke was 34.2% (n = 240) while 9.4% (n = 66) had newly diagnosed diabetes. Mortality was significantly elevated amongst patients with diabetes during hospitalization (p = 0.034) and at 3 months post stroke onset (p = 0.004), but on multivariate analysis, diabetes was not an independent predictor of mortality [OR = 0.984; (95% CI: 0.506 - 1.913); p = 0.961)]. On Cox proportional hazards regression model, the risk of dying was about 1.5 times higher amongst the DM patients compared to non-diabetic patients [adjusted HR (95% CI) of 1.502 (1.128 - 2.000); p = 0.005]. Diabetes was not an independent predictor of poor functional outcome within 3 months post stroke. Conclusion: About 1 in 3 ASP had DM on admission. Survival is better in non-diabetes versus diabetes mellitus ASP. DM was associated with high mortality but does not influence the functional outcome of ASP in our setting