Barthel Index Score and Total Serum Cholesterol Levels Correlation as Prognostic Tool for Acute Ischemic Stroke

OBJECTIVE: To find a correlation between total serum cholesterol (TSC) in acute ischemic stroke and their prognosis is assessed employing the Barthel Index (BI) score. METHODOLOGY: This prospective study was conducted at Medical Emergency of Allied Hospital Faisalabad and Social Security Hospital Lahore from 2020 to 2021. The written informed consent was obtained. In 58 sudden-onset acute ischemic stroke subjects, 36 males and 22 females were selected by purposive sampling. Patients were aged between 18-50 years. The BI scoring system was used instantly on admission day, followed up at 48 hours, two weeks and one month of stroke to determine everyday routine in Personal care. Patients with a previous history of some stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), diabetes mellitus (DM), renal dysfunction, cardiac malfunctions, or valvular heart diseases were excluded. Stroke patients having an acute ischemic stroke for the first time were diagnosed and confirmed by non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scan and statistical analysis using SPSS version 17.0. RESULTS: The mean BI score taken at four intervals was significantly correlated to the levels of TSC. The acute ischemic stroke patients with TSC level > 200 mg/dl showed better prognosis in comparison to those with TSC level < 200 mg/dl. CONCLUSION: The present study on acute ischemic stroke patients suggests that TSC is correlated to a better future outcome as assessed by the BI score. This study demonstrates that high total serum cholesterol (HTSC) can be considered as a marker to anticipate the prognosis in patients of acute ischemic stroke.