engleski

Risk factors in Stroke patients - urban vs. rural population of Zagreb and Zagreb Suburbia

Background: 1n contrast to developed countries, where decline of stroke incidence and mortality has been recorded in Croatia we did not yet observe such decrease. The aim of our study was therefore to investigate and identify the prevalence of stroke risk factors, in order to prevent them. Methods: Risk factors of stroke patients hospitalized in Neurology department of Sestre milosrdnice University hospital during 2002 were analyzed - sex, age, obesity, physical (in)activity, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, arterial hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, hypercholesterolemia, occlusive carotid disease. RESULTS: results for risk factors in stroke patients were analyzed and compared between patients from Zagreb urban population and rural population of Zagreb suburbia, to estimate frequency overall and separately for ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoidal hemorrhage. Arterial hypertension and cigarette smoking were most prominent risk factors in both populations. conclusion: Focusing on most prominent risk factors and treating them is the most effective way to decrease incidence of stroke. Many stroke patients have multiple stroke risk factors what increases the risk of stroke. However lifestyle modifications and successful medical treatment of risk factors open new horizons in stroke prevention.

Risk factors; Stroke; urban vs. rural population; Zagreb; Zagreb Suburbia

nije evidentirano