Risk Factors For Subtypes of Cerebrovascular Disease in Korea

With a purpose to difine risk factors of respective subtypes of cerebrovascular disease, a case-control study was performed in 1,251 cases with cerebrovascular disease who were admitted to twelve large institutions over the country during the year of 1988. All cases were subtype-proven by computerized tomography. Three hundred and eighty three patients were selected as control among the patients who were admitted to the same hospitals during the same period. The variables were collected prospectively and the data were processed by univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses and the significance was tested by chi-square methods. In the univariate analysis, female sex, being a physical worker, history of hypertension either treated or not and previous stroke history were significantly related with cerebral hemorrhage. Male sex, being aged 60 or more, living in city area, being a mental worker, history of hypertension either treated or not, history of stroke, being a diabetic and positive family history of stroke were significantly related with cerebral infarction. In multiple logistic regression analysis hypertension and alcohol drinking were strong independent risk factors for cerebral hemorrhage. Hypertension, being aged 60 or more, and living in urban area were also independent risk facrots for cerbral infarction. Of the other variables analyzed, socioeconomic class, smoking history or body mass index did not constitute significnat risks for either cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction.

Clinical Studies on 40 Cases of Postpartum Heart Failure

Fourty cases of postpartum heart failure occuring in Korean women in the Dept. of Int. Med., Pusan University Hospital are reported, with and analysis of clinical data including frequency, age, time of onset, clinical features, hemoglobin, liver function, electrocardiographic and chest X-ray findings. The following results were obtained. 1. The cases were mostly found in 20-29 years age group, 50% of the total cases. 2. Eighteen cases of fourty patients experienced the symptoms during the 2nd week after delivery and 12 cases complained the symptoms during 4th week. 3. Only six cases noted onset of heart disease following the 4th pregnancy, whereas sixteen patients experienced this phenomenon after the first gestation, eight patients after the 2nd gestation and ten patients after the 3rd pregnancy. 4. At the admission the patients were suffering from paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, orthopnea, exertional dyspnea and generalized edema. Physical findings revealed cardiomegaly, gallop rhythm, edema, pulmonary fine rales and systolic murmur in frequency. 5. Electrocardiograms were available at the time of presentation in thirty patients. Twenty four patients had left ventricular hypertrophy, 18 patients sinus tachycardia, 3 patients lower voltage. 6. The chest X-ray film showed the cardiomegaly in 15 cases, 83.3% of the obtained 18 cases, 12 cases pulmonary edema, 3 cases pericardial effusion. 7. The venous pressure was measured in 15 patients. In 5 cases the venous pressure was normal and in 10 increased above 150mmH2O. 8. With prompt treatment by rest, salt restriction, diuretics and digoxin the clinical symptoms improved in 31 cases but 9 patients died at the admission.