RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The incidence of stroke is rising in developing countries. In Côte d'Ivoire, it accounts for nearly 45 % of admissions to the neurology departments in Abidjan. In Bouaké, no study has dealt with this subject since peace returned. Our aim was to assess the epidemiological characteristics of stroke patients at Bouaké University Hospital. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study took place from September 2013 to December 2015 and included all patients hospitalized for a stroke confirmed by brain imaging. RESULTS: The study included 164 cases: 60% ischemic strokes, and 40 % hemorrhagic. Patients' mean age was 62 years with a sex ratio of 0.66. Patients not in the labor force accounted for the largest portion (61.6 %). The interval between the stroke and admission to the neurology department ranged between 24 and 72 hours for 61 % of the patients. The main risk factor was hypertension (62.8 %). The average length of hospitalization was 8.44 days. Hospital mortality was 18.3 %. CONCLUSION: Stroke is responsible for high morbidity and mortality in the neurology department of Bouaké University Hospital.