Frequency of Risk Factors in Patients with Acute Stroke at Tertiary Care Hospital Bahawalpur

Objective: To determine the frequency of risk factors in patients with acute stroke at tertiary care hospital Bahawalpur. Study design: Cross sectional/observational study Place and duration: This study was done in medical wards of Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur from June 2012 to December 2012. Materials and Methods: Patients having age 18 years or above, presenting with history of stroke and admitted in medical wards were included in this study. CT scan brain was done at the time of admission. For identification of risk factors, a detail history and relevant investigations were done in same hospital. All findings were entered in individual proforma. Results: A total of 142 patients were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 56.79±13.943 years. 79 (55.63%) patients were male and 63 (44.37%) patients were female. In risk factors, 88 (62%) patients had hypertension, 30 (21.1%) patients had diabetes mellitus, 26 (18.3%) patients had history of smoking, 9 (6.3%) patients had ischemic heart disease, 14 (9.9%) patients had previous stroke and 19 (13.4%) patients had high cholesterol level. Conclusion: We found that hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking and high cholesterol level were major modifiable risk factors in the development of stroke. Controlling of these risk factors might reduce the risk of stroke.