Fasting During Ramadan Is Safe For Stroke Patients

Main Category: Stroke
Article Date: 24 Jun 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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Physiological and biochemical changes that occur during fasting in Ramadan are not a risk factor for stroke and do not affect the short-term survival of patients. This is the result of a study by a team of researchers from the Isfahan University of Medical Sicences (Iran). The data are being presented at the annual meeting of the European Neurological Society in Milan (Italy).

The research team surveyed more than 3.000 stroke patients between the years 2000 to 2006, during, a month before and a month after Ramadan. "There were no statistical differences between the three months for the sex ratio, the mean age of patients, stroke type and stroke occurrence", the experts report. "The case fatality rates before, during and after Ramadan were 25,3%, 24% and 26,1% respectively. The mean survival of stroke patients was not different statistically between Ramadan or the months before or after that."

Fasting during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar is a religious duty for healthy Muslim adults. During the fasting month believers are required to refrain from taking any food, beverages or oral drugs between dawn and sunset. Other religions also have their specific fasting regulations.

Abstract:
ENS abstract P486: Maghzi et al, Does Ramadan fasting influence the incidence and short-term survival of stroke?

Source
European Neurological Society