Effect of Serum Albumin on Outcome of Stroke In Children at Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Objective: The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of favorable outcome of
stroke in children presenting at tertiary care hospital and to compare the mean serum albumin
levels in children with favorable and unfavorable outcome of stroke in tertiary care hospital.
Methods: Two hundred children in the age range of 1-14 years, meeting the inclusion and
exclusion criteria were registered from pediatric and neurology department of Children Hospital &
ICH Lahore. Informed consent was taken from their parents to include them in the study.
Demographic information (name, age, sex, address) was collected. Serum albumin was sent to
biochemistry lab of the hospital at the time of admission. Outcome of the stroke was determined
by Modified Rankin Scale at the time of discharge and death in case and observed data was
recorded on a specially designed proforma (attached).
Results: In our study, out of 200 cases, 40% (n=80) cases were between 1-7 years of age, 60%
(n=120) cases were between 8-14 years of age, mean±sd was calculated as 7.75±3.49 years,
56% (n=112) cases were male, 44% (n=88) cases were females. Frequency of favorable
outcome of stroke in children with stroke presenting in tertiary care hospital was calculated as
42.5% (n=85) while 57.5% (n=115) had unfavorable outcome. Comparison of mean serum
albumin levels in children with favorable and unfavorable outcome of stroke in tertiary care
hospital showed, 3.13±0.19g/dl in favorable outcome while 1.79±0.18g/dl in unfavorable
outcome and p value was calculated as 0.0001 which shows a significant difference between
mean serum albumin levels in favorable and unfavorable outcome of stroke.
Conclusion: We concluded that most of the pediatric stroke patients have unfavorable outcome
and comparatively less patients have favorable outcome of stroke. Also, the mean serum albumin
level in children with favorable outcome is higher and it is significantly lower in children with
unfavorable outcome of stroke in tertiary care hospital. So higher the serum albumin in pediatric
stroke patient one can expect good outcome of stroke.