Hussein Yakubu, MBChB, MGCS
Nominated From: University of Michigan
Research Site: Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
Research Area: Neurological Disorders
Primary Mentor: Rockefeller Oteng
Research Project
Spectrum of Cerebrovascular Strokes presenting to a low-resource Emergency Department in the Ashanti Region of Ghana
Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States and create significant long-term disability among survivors. The incidence of strokes is rising in Africa and other Low-Middle-Income-Countries (LMICs) following lifestyle modifications and increasing incidence of metabolic and cardiovascular disease. Current advancements in diagnosis and treatment in the developed world has resulted in reduced morbidity and mortality from strokes. However, the burden of this conditions including factors relating to morbidity and mortality outcomes in the emergency setting have not been adequately evaluated in LMICs. This study is aimed at characterizing the stroke population presenting to a low resource emergency department in the Ashanti region of Ghana.
Research Significance
While working as an emergency physician in a low-resource ED in Ghana, I observed a trend of high stroke admissions and deaths over the past few years. This generated an interest to understand the reasons for this occurrence whilst being cognizant of resource and system challenges peculiar to this environment. Stroke research allows clinicians to better examine the causes/risk factors in patients as well as factors that affect morbidity and mortality.
Understanding patterns of strokes across diverse cultures helps to tailor applicable management and prevention strategies to reduce the burden of this rising health concern.
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