To study the
risk factors of
stroke in a poor
hospital population.
Design:
Prospective, descriptive
hospital based study.
Setting:
Medical Unit I, Lahore
General Hospital, Lahore. Subjects and
methods. All poor
adults having
treatment arranged by
social welfare department through zakat admitted with features of
stroke during the period January 2000 to December 2000 were included in the study. Type of
stroke was identified by CT scan
brain and
risk factors for
stroke and functional outcome at the
time of discharge were noted on a proforma. Results. Out of 100
patients studied, 79% had
cerebral infarction and 21% had
cerebral hemorrhage. Most of the
patients had more than one
risk factor which included
hypertension 61%,
smoking 53%, sedentary
habits 38%,
diabetes mellitus 33%, dyslipidaemia 32%,
coronary artery disease 22%,
obesity 11%,
alcoholism 9% and
carotid artery stenosis 8%.
In-hospital mortality was 7% and most of them [89%] at discharge were dependent for their daily activities.
Conclusions:
Hypertension,
smoking and
diabetes mellitus are major
risk factors for
stroke in this poor
population and should be the main targets for primary and
secondary prevention of
stroke. Availability of free medicines and developing
stroke units can go a long way in reducing
mortality and improving
rehabilitation of such
patients