INTRODUCTION: Stroke patients often continue their lives with a long process of rehabilitation and treatment after hospitalization.The adaptation to this process can be challenging for caregivers, particularly during the acute phase.Previous studies about anxiety in stroke have mainly focused on the subacute and chronic phases.Therefore, this study aimed to assess anxiety levels during the acute phase within caregivers of stroke patients in the hospitalization period, along with associated factors.METHODS: Hospitalized patients for acute stroke and their caregivers were included in the study.Sociodemographic characteristics of patients and their caregivers were recorded.Clinical conditions and disease features of patients were evaluated.Caregivers were administered the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scales.The relationships between these variables were assessed.RESULTS: The study included 100 patients with a mean age of 67.09±11.48and 100 caregivers with a mean age of 46.19±13.36.Higher anxiety scores were observed in caregivers of patients who were younger than 65, had ischemic stroke, and were treated in the neurology service (p=0.001;p=0.001; p=0.019).A negative correlation was found between the number and satisfaction of physician's daily information with anxiety scores (p=0.001).In addition, higher anxiety scores were identified in caregivers, particularly female caregivers of patients in the 1st and 2nd degree relatives (p=0.032;p=0.033).DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Caregivers to stroke patients experience significant levels of anxiety, and depression.This situation is associated with various factors.It is important to provide more frequent and satisfactory information to caregivers, especially in the hospitalization period.
NTRODUCTION: It is known that local vascular anatomy and related hemodynamic factors are effective in aneurysm formation.The Willis polygon that forms the cerebral artery network is asymmetric in upto 54% of population.However, this is not the only determinant of aneurysm formation.It is suggested that A1 segment hypoplasia/aplasia and hemodynamic changes in the anterior communicating artery have an effect on the formation of anterior communicating artery aneurysm.The aim of this study is to investigate any possible effect of anterior cerebral artery-A1 segment hypoplasia on the formation of anterior communicating artery aneurysm.METHODS: In this study, digital subtraction angiography images of 535 patients, performed in our clinic, were evaluated.The patients were divided into in three groups as those having anterior communicating artery aneurysm (Group-1, 100 patients), patients with aneurysm in the anterior circulation without accompanying anterior communicating artery aneurysm (Group-2, 166 patients), and those who underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA) due to subarachnoid hemorrhage but no aneurysm was detected (Group-3, 269 patients).RESULTS: The frequency of hypoplasia/aplasia observed in Group-1 (45.0%) is significantly higher than Group-2 (13.3%) and Group-3 (16.4%) (p<0.001).DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This result suggests that A1 segment hypoplasia/aplasia can play a role in the formation of anterior communicating artery aneurysm.
