PATTERNS AND PREDICTORS OF ISCHAEMIC AND HAEMORRHAGIC STROKE ACROSS AFRICA: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Introduction: Stroke remains a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide, with Africa experiencing a rising burden driven by urbanisation, ageing, and uncontrolled vascular risk factors. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) records some of the highest incidence and case fatality rates globally, yet data on stroke subtype patterns and predictors remain fragmented due to limited imaging and heterogeneous methodologies.

Aims and Objectives: To determine the pooled proportions of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke across Africa, describe regional variations, identify major modifiable risk factors, and assess methodological quality of available studies.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to PRISMA 2020 and MOOSE guidelines. Observational studies (2000–2025) involving African adults with imaging-confirmed stroke were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, AJOL, and WHO Global Index Medicus. Random-effects models using DerSimonian–Laird estimators with Freeman–Tukey transformation were applied, and heterogeneity assessed using the I² statistic