Common Risk Factors For Stroke Research Articles

Acute neurological stroke care in Europe: results of the European Stroke Care Inventory.

Following the 1997 Recommendations of the EFNS Task Force on Acute Neurological Stroke Care (European Journal of Neurology, 1997: 4:435-441) a European Inventory was undertaken to assess the development of acute stroke care in the EFNS member countries and to give an estimate of the needs based on 1997 data. All 30 members of the EFNS Stroke Scientist Panel were asked to complete a questionnaire on acute stroke epidemiology as well as acute stroke care in their country. Data were based either on national surveys, hospital statistics, or estimates given on the basis of extrapolation of regional studies, or other defined sources. Specialist estimates were also taken into account where no other data source was available. Data from 22 countries were received and referred to almost one million strokes occurring per year in a population of over 500 million. Most epidemiological data confirmed an east-west gap known from previous studies. These included rates that, in eastern countries, were higher for incidence, stroke as a leading cause of death, and 30-day case-fatality, and rates that were lower for overall hospitalization or availability of CT scanning. East-west differences were not seen for the total number of acute stroke units or the number of acute stroke units set up within neurological hospital departments, nor for most other quality indicators of acute stroke care with the exception of technological standards in some countries. The higher rates for 30-day case-fatality in eastern Europe (mostly above 20%) compared with western Europe (mostly below 20%) are probably caused by a case mix with more severe ischemic strokes and a higher percentage of cerebral haemorrhages admitted for acute care in eastern Europe. This is probably due to the higher prevalence of the most common risk factors for stroke in these countries which tend to result in more severe strokes. This, therefore, underlines the need for stroke prevention programmes especially in eastern Europe. This epidemiological east-west gap is not reflected by most quality indicators for acute stroke care, e.g. total number of acute stroke units available within each country. Most eastern European countries have a well-developed neurological care system for acute stroke but still have urgent technological and socioeconomical needs. The leading role of clinical neurology in acute stroke care is visible in most but not all European countries.

Anticoagulation to Prevent Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation and Its Implications for Managed Care

Nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most potent common risk factor for stroke, raising the risk of stroke 5-fold. Six randomized trials of anticoagulation in AFib consistently demonstrated a reduction in the risk of stroke by about two-thirds. In these trials, anticoagulation in AFib was quite safe. In contrast, randomized trials indicate that aspirin confers only a small reduction in risk of stroke, at best. Pooled data from the first set of randomized trials indicate that prior stroke, hypertension, diabetes, and increasing age are independent risk factors for future stroke with AFib. Individuals <65 years old with none of the other risk factors might safely avoid anticoagulation; for all others, anticoagulation seems indicated. Studies of hemorrhagic risk highlight the importance of keeping the international normalized ratio (INR) <4.0. Recent analyses also reveal that risk of ischemic stroke in AFib increases greatly at INR levels <2.0. Efficacy and safety of anticoagulation in AFib depend on maintaining the INR between 2.0–3.0. Cost-effectiveness studies indicate that anticoagulation for AFib is among the most efficient preventive interventions in adults. Importantly, the benefits of anticoagulation in AFib accrue immediately. The implications for managed care organizations are that anticoagulation for AFib should be encouraged in their covered populations, and that dedicated anticoagulation services should be developed to promote system-wide control of anticoagulation intensity. Quality measures would include the proportion of patients with AFib who are anticoagulated, and the percentage of time patients’ INR levels are between 2.0–3.0. Managed care organizations can benefit from recent research on anticoagulation for AFib; they have a responsibility to support future research and development efforts.

Left ventricular hypertrophy as a risk factor: the Framingham experience

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is one of the less common but ominous risk factors for coronary disease, stroke and cardiac failure. The chief determinants of LVH, aside from age, are elevated blood pressure, obesity, stature and glucose intolerance. Cardiac valve disease and chronic heart disease (CHD) also cause LVH. Downward trends in the prevalence of LVH over four decades indicate that LVH is preventable, and this has coincided with improved hypertension control. When evidence of LVH disappears, the risk of all-cause, cardiovascular and CHD mortality is substantially reduced. Cardiovascular events occur incrementally in relation to left ventricular mass with no discernible critical value identifying pathological hypertrophy. LVH as evidenced by electrocardiogram (ECG-LVH), manifested by repolarization abnormality as well as increased voltage, was a lethal finding; with 5 years, 33% of men and 21% of women were dead. ECG-LVH was associated with ventricular ectopy and a sudden death risk comparable to that of CHD or cardiac failure. ECG-LVH was associated with a 3-15-fold increase of cardiovascular events with greatest risk ratios for cardiac failure and stroke. However, CHD is the predominant clinical sequel. No other risk factor approaches LVH in potency. Anatomical (echocardiographic or X-ray) LVH and ECG-LVH each independently contribute to the risk of cardiovascular disease, and having both confers a greater risk than having either alone. LVH is a clinical finding which should be taken seriously and corrected as soon as detected. It should not be regarded as an innocuous adaptive process, augmenting cardiac function.

Stroke in a subsaharan Nigerian hospital--a retrospective study.

The case records of 53 consecutive Nigerian inpatients with stroke in the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri were retrospectively reviewed. The mean age at presentation was 55 years and the male to female ratio was 2.5:1. The mean duration of symptoms before presentation was 11.1 weeks and the average duration of stay in hospital was 3 weeks. Thirty-three (63%) of the lesions were infarctive and 19 (37%) were haemorrhagic. Only 3 (6%) patients gave a history of prior transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs). Forty-two (79%) patients were hypertensive at presentation out of which 27 (64%) had the hypertension diagnosed for the first time. Four (8%) patients were non-insulin dependent diabetics. There were 11 hospital deaths (21%). Thus hypertension, more than half undiagnosed at admission, was the most common risk factor for stroke in the hospital population studied.

Analysis of Risk Factors Associated with Stroke in Young Adults: A Prospective Study

Objective: Stroke in young patients is not common. The purpose of this study was to find out the risk factors of stroke in young adults in Bangladesh and to compare with different other studies. Methods: 85 young adult cases of stroke patients with the age ranging from 14 to 45 years, admitted in different medical units of Dhaka Medical College Hospital from January 2008 to July 2009, were studied. The risk factors for stroke and the distribution of stroke types were analyzed. Results: The specific age group (14-45 years old) included 6% of patients of all ages admitted for stroke. Among 85 patients, cerebral infarction was diagnosed in 52 patients (61%). Intracerebral hemorrhage (without trauma) was diagnosed in 25 patients (29.4%). Subarachnoid hemorrhage was found in 7 young patients (8.24%). The most common risk factors for ischemic stroke were hypertension (57.68%), hypercholesterolemia (38.46%), diabetes (34.61%), smoking (32.69%), premature atherosclerosis (11.54%). Regarding aetiology of cerebral infarction, the majority due to cardiogenic emboli (75%). The use of oral contraceptives, pregnancy, SLE, migraine and moya moya disease were infrequent causes of cerebral infarction. In ischemic stroke, the ratio of cardiogenic emboli &amp; other factors were 3:1. The most common risk factors for hemorrhagic stroke were hypertension (63.63%), hypercholesterolemia (39.39%), diabetes (36.54%) &amp; smoking (33.33%). Conclusion: Hypertension, Diabetes, tobacco smoking, premature atherosclerosis &amp; rheumatic valvular heart disease are growing problems in the developing countries. According to our finding, identification &amp; treatment of hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes &amp; rheumatic valvular heart disease &amp; cessation of smoking are proper measures to prevent morbidity &amp; mortality. Key words: Risk factors; stroke; young adult. DOI: 10.3329/jdmc.v18i2.6265 J Dhaka Med Coll. 2009; 18(2) : 95-99

Blood pressure control in long-term stroke survivors evaluated one year post stroke

Hypertension is the most common modifiable risk factor for stroke and treatment of hypertension has been known to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke. There are no studies done to evaluate the optimal blood pressure (BP) control in long-term stroke survivors in Nigeria. This study is aimed at determining the proportion of stroke survivors attending stroke prevention clinic who have optimal BP control of hypertension one year post stroke and to determine what factors are associated with the suboptimal BP control. The subjects were consecutively presenting long term stroke survivors attending Neurology Outpatients'Clinic of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria. After informed consent, socio-demographic data and clinical characteristic were obtained from the patient using structured questionnaire. Admission stroke severity was obtained retrospectively using National Institute of Health Stroke Score (NIHSS). Modified Rankin scale (mRs) was used to assess the level of handicap . The presence of depression was determined using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Blood pressure was measured in the dominant, non-stroke arm of the patients using mercury sphygmomanometer. A total of 68 patients were studied with a mean age of 55.15±11.9 years. Most common co- morbid condition was diabetes mellitus. Only 3(4.4%) patients had a repeat stroke during the one year period. Twenty five (36.8%) of these patients still had sub-optimal BP control. Forty seven (69.1%) of these patients were on combination therapy (including angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and diuretics) and 18 (26.5%) were on calcium channel blockers alone. The difference in mean age of stroke survivors with optimal and sub-optima BP control was not statistically significant. However, the mean duration of formal education of the stroke survivors with optimally controlled blood pressure was significantly higher than those with sub-optimal BP control. Eighteen (26.5%) of long term stroke survivors had clinical depression. Significantly higher proportion of the clinically depressed patients had sub-optimal blood pressure at one year compared to those that were not depressed. Formally educated patients had a better blood pressure control compared to those without formal education. Following a multivariate logistic regression, the major independent determinants of sub-optimal blood pressure control at one year post stroke were presence of depression and low levels of formal educational attainment. majority of stroke survivors attending the ABUTH neurology outpatients clinic have suboptimal blood pressure control and major determinant of suboptimal BP control were presence of clinical depression and low formal educational status.