Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke according to the South East Asian Medical Information Center (SEAMIC). The prevalence of stroke in Riau is 8.3%, which has increased from 2013. One of the symptoms of ischemic stroke is dysphagia which is defined as difficulty swallowing, which means difficulty passing food from the mouth to the stomach. This symptom is of concern because it is a common cause of dehydration resulting in electrolyte imbalance, stroke associated pneumonia (SAP) which can increase mortality rates. The need for early detection of dysphagia can reduce the incidence of electrolyte disorders. This study aims to determine the relationship between dysphagia and the incidence of electrolyte imbalance in ischemic stroke patients treated in the neurology ward of Arifin Achmad Regional Hospital, Riau Province.

This research is an analytical research with a cross sectional method. The research will be carried out in the neurological ward of Arifin Achmad Regional Hospital, Riau Province from August – November 2023.

In this study, it was found that 42.5% of ischemic stroke patients experienced dysphagia with the characteristics of the majority being 51-60 years old (41.2%) male (58.8%) with a frequency of first stroke attacks (52.9%) and the majority had multiple risk factors (70.6%).

The majority of electrolyte levels in dysphagia patients have low electrolyte levels. The most common lesion locations in dysphagia patients were subcortical and combined (35.3%). There was a significant relationship between dysphagia and the incidence of electrolyte disturbances (p=0.000).

Discussion: Lack of fluid intake that does not reach optimal needs can be a risk of dehydration which can lead to electrolyte disorders. Dysphagia directly interferes with the ability to eat and drink so that intake is not strong. This can affect water and electrolyte balance.

Riki Sukiandra, MD, PhD, Neurologist was born in Pangkalan on December 20, 1978. He obtained his Medical Doctor degree from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Kristen Indonesia, Jakarta, in 2003. He then completed his residency training in Neurology at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, in 2008. In 2021, he earned his Doctorate in Biomedical Science from Universitas Andalas, Padang, and later pursued a fellowship in Neurointensive Care in 2023. He has been serving as a lecturer at the Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Riau, and a consultant neurologist at Arifin Ahmad General Hospital since 2008. In addition, he practices as a neurologist at Awal Bros Pekanbaru Hospital and Syafira Hospital Pekanbaru. Currently, he holds the position of Head of the Clinical Department at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Riau. He is an active member of the Indonesian Neurological Association (PERDOSNI), the Neurointensive Study Group, and the Pain Study Group. He has also served as Secretary and Head of the PERDOSNI Pekanbaru Chapter for multiple terms. His academic and clinical interests focus on neurointensive care, stroke, and neurological emergencies. He has over 10 publications.