West Tripura Emerges As Stroke Hotspot For Women, Study Reveals News24 –
By – Rahul Namasudra From Tripura
When Tripura University researchers plotted every stroke suffered by a woman in the state over two years, one district lit up the map: West Tripura. With 89% of all 273 documented cases concentrated there—mostly in Agartala—the findings point to a dangerous mix of age, population density, and unequal healthcare access driving the crisis.
The study, conducted between December 2022 and December 2024, mapped the spatial distribution of cerebrovascular events among women in five districts of Tripura—West Tripura, Sepahijala, Gomati, South Tripura, and Khowai. Using hospital registry data from Indira Gandhi Memorial (IGM) Hospital in Agartala, researchers found a persistent clustering of cases in the capital region, particularly within the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) area.
Within West Tripura, the pattern was clear. In the first year (December 2022–November 2023), 146 cases were reported, followed by 96 in the second year (December 2023–December 2024). The AMC area alone saw 111 cases in the first year and 66 in the second, with earlier incidents more densely packed in central and southern neighbourhoods.
“The primary clustering remains largely consistent, suggesting underlying risk factors such as urban density, healthcare disparities, or lifestyle habits,” the researchers explained.
By comparison, other districts recorded far fewer cases. South Tripura accounted for 8% of the total, while Sepahijala saw 13 cases in the first year and 8 in the second. Gomati reported only two cases over two years, and Khowai had four cases, all in the first year. These smaller numbers, the authors noted, may reflect genuinely lower incidence or possible under-reporting.
Age emerged as a decisive factor in stroke risk. Across the two years, women aged between 51 and 80 formed the overwhelming majority of cases. Each of the three age groups—51–60, 61–70, and 71–80—accounted for roughly 22% of cases, with incidence among women under 40 almost negligible. In the first year, the 71–80 age group recorded the most cases, while in the second year, the 61–70 group led.
“The risk for cerebrovascular events among women reaches its maximum between the ages of 51 and 80,” the study emphasized.
Statistical analysis confirmed the significance of these age patterns. A chi-square test for the two-year data (December 2022–December 2024) found a χ² value of 21.71 with a p-value of less than 0.0001, indicating that cerebrovascular diseases did not affect all age groups equally. The 51–60 group recorded the highest overall case count over the two years, making them a critical focus for preventive healthcare efforts.
The type of stroke was also consistent across cases. Of the 273 documented incidents, 82% were identified as Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)—the common ischemic type—while less frequent forms included CVA with intracerebral haemorrhage and CVA related to hypertension, each accounting for 5%. Rare cases included older CVA, post-CVA, general cerebrovascular disease, and Pontine CVA. “CVA is the main worry in the larger category of cerebrovascular diseases,” the authors wrote.
Treatment data from IGM Hospital provided further insight. Nearly half of the women—49%—were treated at IGM itself, while 51% were referred to GBP Hospital and Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC). Notably, 57% of patients required only a single day of hospitalisation, a pattern the researchers suggest may point to timely interventions or less severe episodes. The proportion of patients dropped sharply with longer stays: 14% stayed two days, 10% stayed three days, and just 1% or fewer were admitted for seven to fifteen days.
While the second year of the study saw a decline in the total number of reported cases—from 168 in the first year to 105 in the second—the geographic clustering in West Tripura remained pronounced. The researchers observed that this drop “may indicate advancements in healthcare access, preventive measures, or alterations in reporting practices,” but stressed that the concentration of cases in the capital district reflects deeper, persistent issues.
The study’s conclusion was clear: the spatial and demographic trends point to a health challenge that is shaped by where women live and how old they are.
“The pattern is influenced by age, geography, and healthcare access,” the authors wrote, calling for proactive policy measures, geographically informed planning, and fair distribution of healthcare resources. They recommended that women between the ages of 51 and 80—particularly those between 51 and 60—be prioritised in preventive care programmes.
The findings align with broader national and international trends showing ischemic strokes as more common than hemorrhagic ones, with chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes playing a major role. In Tripura, however, the imbalance between districts—and the dominance of West Tripura—suggests that solutions must address not only medical risk factors but also the spatial realities of healthcare access and urban living.