Background and objective: Cerebrovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Research has focused on determining the risk factors for cerebrovascular disease independent of gender; however, it has been important to differentiate between men and women due to the variety of causes that occur in the latter. Therefore, the aim was to determine the risk factors for cerebrovascular disease in women admitted to the internal medicine service of the Central Hospital of San Cristóbal (Táchira, Venezuela). Methods: A case-control study was performed. Cases were female patients diagnosed with acute cerebrovascular disease (24 to 72 hours after symptom onset). Controls were hospitalized or community-based female subjects without pathologies associated with cardiovascular disorders. The case-control ratio was 1:2, of equal age or ± 5 years. All participants signed the informed consent form and completed the data collection form. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated, with 95% confidence intervals. Results: In the period between February 2 to July 15, 2020, 111 female participants entered the study, 37 cases (26 with ischemic cerebrovascular disease and 11 with hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease) and 74 controls. Of the risk factors studied: arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol consumption, overweight, obesity, atrial fibrillation, use of oral contraceptives, use of hormone replacement therapy, autoimmune diseases, only association was found between atrial fibrillation (OR 9.1736, 95% CI 3.3638-25.0173), autoimmune diseases (OR 9.1736, 95% CI 3.3638-5.0173) and ischemic cerebrovascular disease. No association was found with any risk factor and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease. Conclusions: The risk factors for cerebrovascular disease in the female population are modifiable and treatable, being pertinent to determine their presence and carry out the necessary actions to reduce morbimortality in this population group.
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