Abstract P126: Risk Factor Profiles of South Asians with Cerebrovascular Disease: Findings from a Community-Based Prevalence Study in Semiurban Pakistan

Abstract

Background There is a paucity of population based data about the coexistent prevalence of risk factors for stroke in South Asians. Methods In this cross sectional survey performed in an urban slum, individuals 35 years of age or older were invited for participation through simple random sample drawn from baseline census data. For each participant a systematic history and examination was performed to confirm the following risk factors: Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity, Tobacco Use, Coronary Artery Disease, Family History of Coronary Artery Disease and/or Stroke. Cerebrovascular events (stroke and TIA) were verified by a vascular neurologist. We report the association of risk factor groups and the presence of contemporaneous cerebrovascular event (CVE). Results Five hundred and forty five individuals (49.4% females 269 out of 545) participated in the study. Cerebrovascular event (Stroke and /or TIA) were found in “21.8% (119 out of 545)” individuals. Obesity was found to be the predominant risk factor, occurring in “56.9% (310 out of 545)”, followed by total hypertension “52.1% (284 out of 545)” and tobacco use respectively “39% (213 out of 545)”. There were “63.3% (345 out of 545) individuals with two or more risk factors, with the majority of these being women (54.6%). CVE increased in percentage with quantitative increase in risk factors, with 13% of CVE in individuals with no risk factors to 85.7% CVE among those with 5 risk factors. The combination of Hypertension, Diabetes, Obesity and cigarette smoking conferred the highest odds at 4.9 (p=0.039). Conclusion A systematic screening within South Asians with cerebrovascular disease will uncover multiple preventable risk factors.