Objective: To investigate the incidence of stroke among pilgrims and describe factors associated with presentation and management during Hajj. Physical stress, age and vascular risk factors render pilgrims at a high risk of stroke.
Methods: This is a prospective registry of all acute stroke patients admitted to 6 hospitals during the 2015 Hajj season from 9 September to 4 November. Participating hospitals were King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC), Al-Noor, King Abdulaziz hospital, King Faisal hospital, Hira, and Mena general hospitals; all in Makkah city. Stroke diagnosis was confirmed by imaging. Clinical, demographic and outcome variables were collected.
Results: The incidence of stroke during 2015 Hajj season is 8.9/100,000; 186 cases. The peak incidence was noted on the day after Arafat. Saudis represented 17.2% while 36% were females. Hemorrhagic stroke occurred in 35 patients (18.8%). The mean age was 60.8+/-12.9 years while the most common risk factors were hypertension (57.0%) and diabetes (40.9%). Only 5 patients received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator. The median length of hospital stay was 4 days. Twenty-one patients (11.3%) died during hospitalization. The only factor that approached significance in predicting mortality was hemorrhagic stroke (odds ratio of 1.62; 95% CI: 0.97 to 2.70; p=0.063).
Conclusion: Stroke is a major health burden during Hajj. Educational programs for pilgrims and healthcare workers together with protocol-driven care are expected to positively impact stroke care.