Ischemic stroke: prevalence of modifiable risk factors in male and female patients in Pakistan.

Stroke is the commonest neurological cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world being the third leading cause of death. Estimation of stroke risks in population is not only helpful for healthcare providers but also important to identify persons at elevated risk and to select proper treatments in clinical trials. The aim of the present study was to identify the prevalence of common modifiable risk factors for ischemic stroke in Pakistan. Patients of either sex above the age of 25 yrs who were admitted to Neurology Ward or came to OPD in Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre were included in the study. Type of stroke was identified by brain CT scans or MRI and risk factors for stroke and other details were noted on a proforma. Out of 55 patients studied for present study, 78% were males and 22% were females. Most of them belonged to low socioeconomic status and almost 50% were having family history of stroke. Most of the patients had multiple risk factors which included: hypertension (65%), smoking (32%), diabetes mellitus (36.3%), dyslipidemia (32.7%), coronary artery disease (9%), obesity (18%), epilepsy (16.3%) and left ventricular hypertrophy (3.6%). On the basis of these findings, it can be concluded that hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus are major risk factors for stroke and might be considered as main targets for primary and secondary prevention of stroke.