Abstract
In this study, demographic characteristics, risk factors, stroke subtypes and outcome were compared in 2532 patients with and without diabetes hospitalized for first-ever stroke. Diabetes was present in 471 (18.6%) of the patients. Patients with diabetes presented more frequently with ischaemic stroke (92.1% versus 71.3%), especially lacunar infarction (41.2% versus 35.2%), compared with non-diabetics. Cerebral haemorrhage was less frequent in diabetics than non-diabetics (4.2% versus 18.1%). In-hospital mortality rates from ischaemic stroke were similar in the two groups (18.2% in diabetics and 16.9% in non-diabetics). Predictors of in-hospital mortality in diabetic patients included decreased consciousness, congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. In conclusion, stroke in diabetic patients was different to stroke in non-diabetic patients: in diabetics the frequency of cerebral haemorrhage was lower and the rate of lacunar infarct syndrome was higher, but in-hospital mortality from ischaemic stroke was not increased. Clinical factors evident at the onset of stroke have a major influence on in-hospital mortality and may help clinicians provide a more accurate prognosis.