Characterization of patients with an anatomopathological diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease

Introduction: In Cuba, cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) are very common non-communicable chronic conditions. Objectives: Characterize patients from intensive care unit with a pathological diagnosis of CVD. Methods: Observational, descriptive and transversal study in a sample of 176 patients. Variables: Age (19-39 years, 40-59 years, 60-100 years), sex, type of CVD (hemorrhagic, ischemic), APACHE II scale (= 15, > 15 score) and Glasgow coma on admission (= 8, > 8 score), mechanical ventilation (yes, no), length of stay (= 7, > 7 days) and direct cause of death. Frequencies, measures of central tendency, chi-square and Student's t tests (significance level of 5%) were calculated. Results: Hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease, male sex (52.8%) and the age group of 60-100 years (64.8%) predominated. The mean age was 63.8 years. The average value of the APACHE II and Glasgow scales was 21.6 and 6.5. 97.6% received mechanical ventilation. The mean stay was 7.0 days. Severe cerebral edema was the main cause of direct death (79.3%). Conclusions: There is a predominance of hemorrhagic CVD, in male patients, aged 60-100 years, APACHE II score > 15, Glasgow score = 8, ventilated patients, stay = 7 days and intense cerebral edema