Aim: To study the relationship of Iron Deficiency anemia (IDA) with severity of acute ischemic stroke.

Study Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study.

Place & Duration of Study: Department of Medicine, Mayo Hospital, Lahore from March 2020 to February 2021

Methods: A descriptive study of cross-sectional type was done on 200 individuals who had acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and were hospitalized at Mayo Hospital Lahore. Consecutive non-probability convenience sampling method was used to gather the data. Severity of stroke was assessed at the time of admission using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, (NIHSS) at the same time blood complete examination along with peripheral blood film was done to diagnose anemia in these patients. Iron studies were done to diagnose iron deficiency anemia (IDA). P-value less than 0.05 was taken as significant.

Results: About 200individuals presenting with AIS were enrolled in the research work. Anemia according to World Health Organization was seen in 80(40%) and was not present in 120(60%) patients. Among the subjects who had anemia, 16(20%) had a minor AIS, 23(28.75%) had a moderately severe AIS, and 41(51.25%) reported with a severe AIS, according to NIHSS criteria. A notable relationship was found to exist between anemia and stroke severity, (P-value 0.000).

Conclusion: Anemia was a commonly found in individuals with acute stroke due to ischemia and had direct relation with severity of stroke.

Keywords: Iron deficiency Anemia, severity, ischemic stroke.