The Role of High-Density Lipoprotein, C-reactive Protein, and Serum Ferritin in Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke: An Observational Cross-Sectional Comparative Study

Background Stroke is a significant global health issue, with a high prevalence of morbidity, mortality, and disability. We can classify strokes into two types: ischemic and hemorrhagic, with ischemic strokes being more common. This study aims to investigate the role of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum ferritin levels in people who have had ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes in order to identify possible biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment. Materials and methods This observational cross-sectional comparative study included 100 stroke patients (50 ischemic and 50 hemorrhagic) from Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune. We collected data through clinical evaluations, laboratory tests, and imaging studies. We measured and analyzed HDL, CRP, and serum ferritin levels using appropriate statistical tests, such as the chi-square test and Student t-test, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and a 5% p-value for significance. Results The mean age for ischemic stroke patients was 55.92 years, whereas for hemorrhagic stroke patients, it was 58.68 years. The study found significant differences in HDL, CRP, and ferritin levels between the two groups. The mean HDL level for ischemic stroke patients was significantly lower at 25.10 mg/dL, compared to 40.57 mg/dL in hemorrhagic stroke patients, with a p-value of <0.001. The mean CRP level was higher in ischemic stroke patients (28.90 mg/L) compared to hemorrhagic stroke patients (22.80 mg/L), with a p-value of <0.001. Ferritin levels were also higher in hemorrhagic stroke patients (587.98 ng/mL) compared to ischemic stroke patients (473.16 ng/mL), with a statistically significant p-value of <0.001. Conclusion This study highlights the significant role of HDL, CRP, and serum ferritin levels in distinguishing between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients. Elevated HDL levels may protect against ischemic strokes due to their anti-inflammatory properties, while higher CRP levels in ischemic strokes indicate a strong inflammatory response. Elevated ferritin levels in hemorrhagic strokes suggest increased oxidative stress and inflammation.