Study of Three Month Outcome in Patients with Acute Stroke based On Intensive vs Standard Blood Pressure Control In a Tertiary Care Centre

Hypertension is an important risk factor in the pathogenesis of both Ischemic and Hemorrhagic strokes . Thus the control of blood pressure becomes an important strategy in the prevention of stroke related co-morbidities. Our study aimed to find the impact of Intensive versus Standard BP Control on the functional status of post stroke patients measured by the mRS scale after 3 months of the index event . This was prospective comparative study where each patient was followed up for 3 months with regular OPD visits and telephonically .

 There was statistically significant difference between the mean SBP and mean DBP at baseline and at 1st , 2nd and 3rd month follow-up in both the Intensive and Standard BP Control Groups in the respective intra-group analysis. Inter-Group analysis  between the two groups revealed that there was no statistically significant difference in the mean SBP and DBP at baseline but on follow-up there was statistically significant difference between the mean SBP and mean DBP on all 3 follow up visits .

 The mean mRS of both the groups at baseline was 3.44 . The mean mRS of the Intensive versus the Standard BP Control Group at 3rd month follow up were 2.32 and 3.28 respectively with high statistical significance (p-value = 0.001) . There were no events of recurrent CVA during the three month follow up . Intensive BP Control was associated with improved mRS scores on three month follow up .