Prevalence of risk factors for ischaemic stroke and their treatment among a cohort of stroke patients in Dublin.
Affiliation
Health Information Unit, Dr Steeven's Hospital, Dublin. bmcdonnell@ehbhiu.iol.ieIssue Date
2000-10Keywords
STROKE AND TIAMeSH
AdultAged
Aged, 80 and over
Brain Ischemia
Chi-Square Distribution
Female
Humans
Ireland
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
Stroke
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
McDonnell R et al. Prevalence of risk factors for ischaemic stroke and their treatment among a cohort of stroke patients in Dublin. Ir J Med Sci. 2000:169(4):253-7Journal
Irish journal of medical sciencePubMed ID
11381792Additional Links
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11381792Abstract
The majority of strokes are due to ischaemia. Risk factors include atrial fibrillation, hypertension and smoking. The incidence can be reduced by addressing these risk factors. This study examines the prevalence of risk factors and their treatment in a cohort of patients with ischaemic stroke registered on a Dublin stroke database.Patients admitted to any of three acute hospitals with a diagnosis of stroke during a one-year period in 1997/98 were registered on a database using the European Stroke Database format. Data relating to common risk factors were analysed.
There were 238 ischaemic stroke cases registered. The most frequent medical risk factors were: hypertension (45%), atrial fibrillation (27.3%), and previous disabling or non-disabling stroke (33.2%). There was an increasing trend with advancing age for atrial fibrillation (p < 0.001). Some 23% (54/233) were current smokers. A significantly higher proportion of patients with no medical risk factors were smokers or consumed excessive alcohol compared with those who had medical risk factors.
Medical risk factors for stroke were common among stroke patients and not optimally treated, particularly with regard to atrial fibrillation and previous stroke. Smoking was a major behavioural risk factor among younger patients and much health gain could be achieved in this group through primary prevention strategies.