Frequency of occurrence of the risk factors for stroke

Strokes are responsible for 50% of the neurological problems and also for 4.5 million deaths annually at an international scale. Due to the disability and chronic incompetence they cause, they represent a severe social and financial problem. αιΜ The objective of this study was the recording of the frequency of occurrence of the risk factors for a stroke and the determining of their association with the different types of stroke. MATERIAL-METHOD The study population consisted of 231 patients, who were hospitalized from November 2001 until January 2005 for stroke at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of acute strokes, at the Clinic of Internal Medicine of the General Hospital “Alexandra” with a mean age of 69.07±11.4 years. For data collection, a specially formed report sheet was used in order to record the demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as the habits of the patients, which may possibly represent risk factors for a stroke. For the statistical processing of the data the statistical test x2 was used as well as the Pearson’s correlation coefficient and a discriminant and variance analysis. RESULTS From the results it was revealed that in total, independent of its type, those who suffered from stroke were at a significantly greater extent male patients (P<0.001), patients who lived at a big city (P<0.001), patients who were primary-school graduates (P<0.001), those with a low socioeconomic status (P<0.001), as well as those who lived with a family (P<0.001). According to the type of stroke, it was shown that the cardioembolic type prevails in frequency with a statistically significant difference (P<0.001). From the single risk factors, hypertension was demonstrated in most patients (P<0.001) and heart diseases were more responsible for the embolic episodes (P<0.001). Responsible for a greater mortality were the hemorrhagic vascular episodes (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS From the analysis of the trial’s data, the following conclusions are reached: (a) Hypertension represents the most common risk factor and is most responsible for the ischemic attacks. (b) From the heart diseases, heart insufficiency and atrial fibrillation are most responsible for the cardioembolic episodes. (c) The combinations of risk factors are more frequently responsible in causing a stroke. (d) Demographic, hereditary and socioeconomic factors are responsible for causing a stroke.

Category: Volume 46, N 1
Hits: 317 Hits
Created Date: 15-03-2007
Authors: Maria Polikandrioti , Nikolaos Aggelousis , Basilis Gourgoulis , Panagiota Malliou , Eleni Kyritsi