RISK FACTORS FOR STROKE : A CASE CONTROL STUDY

Background: Stroke is global health problem and is a leading cause of disability. It is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. In rapid increase in burden of stroke in coming years and limited availability of stroke care in India, it would be better to study stroke prevention strategies. The current hospital based case-control study was undertaken with aim, to identify the risk factors for stroke. Material and Method: Study was carried out in BLDEU's Shri B M Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre. A prospective case-control, age and sex matched study was designed to find the risk factors. Cases: The study consisted of 100 hospitalized computed demography (CT) scan proved cases of stroke. Controls: The controls were selected from patients who attended the study hospital for conditions other than stroke (confirmed with CT scan). For each case of stroke, one control was selected. The controls were matched to cases in respect to age ( plus or minus 5 years), sex. One hundred controls were selected in the same manner. Results: Bivariate analysis included odds ratio and its 95% confidence intervals were indentified, hypertension (0R=3.807), diabetes (0R=3.473), hypercholesteremia (OR=3.768), obesity (0R=2.471), smoking (0R=2.42), family history of stroke (OR=2.359), and transient ischemic attack (OR=2.006) as a risk factors for stroke. Conclusion: This is a study that quantifies the contribution of different factors to the overall risk of stroke. Finding that, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes are the biggest risk factors for all type of strokes is important because like many other factors, these are modifiable risks, that can be treated by appropriate medication and life style changes.