To find out the relative frequencies of various
risk factors associated with first ever
stroke. This prospective
observational study was conducted in medical B unit of the Department of
Medicine, Post Graduate Medical Institute,
Government Lady
Reading Hospital, Peshawar,
Pakistan from March 2001 to January 2002. A total number of 100
patients, 64
males and 36
females, with first ever
stroke were included in the study. A
questionnaire was designed comprising detailed
history, general physical and
neurological examinations. The
association of different
risk factors with
stroke was studied. The ages of
patients ranged from 17 to 100 years with mean age of 59 years +11.63 years standard deviation [SD].
Cerebral infarction constituted 68%,
intracerebral hemorrhage 31% and
subarachnoid hemorrhage 01%.
Hypertension [HTN] was the most common
risk factor [60%] followed by
diabetes mellitus [DM] [28%],
hyperlipidemia [28%],
smoking [22%],
ischemic heart disease [IHD] [18%],
atrial fibrillation [12%] and
history of
oral contraceptive use [10%]. Main
risk factors for
stroke are
Hypertension,
Diabetes mellitus,
Hyperlipidemia and
Smoking.
Stroke can be prevented by modification of these
risk factors. There is a genuine need for
health education programmes on
stroke and their
mortality