Risk factors for ischemic stroke: a case control analysis.

Case control analysis of 204 patients with acute ischemic stroke revealed the matched pair odds ratio (and 95% confidence limits) for hypertension, ECG abnormality, heart disease of any type, diabetes, smoking and alcohol intake to be 3.95 (2.5, 6.2), 2.1 (1.4, 3.1), 2.1 (1.4, 3.2), 1.7 (1.1, 2.6), 1.8 (1.1, 2.8) and 1.5 (0.86, 2.6), respectively. Except alcohol intake, the other factors were statistically significant. Hemoglobin, packed cell volume (hematocrit), serum cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were not found to be significant. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and uric acid were significantly lower and the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol (TC/HDL) was higher among stroke patients. The risk was considerably higher when there was any combination of hypertension, heart disease and HDL cholesterol level lower than 45 mg/dl. Logistic regression revealed hypertension, heart disease of any type, lower HDL cholesterol and uric acid and higher ratio of TC/HDL to be significant factors.