ISCHEMIC STROKE: RISK FACTORS AND DISTURBANCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS (A HOSPITAL-BASED STUDY)

  Abstract INTRODUCTION: This prospective observational study was conducted to determine the risk factors and disturbance of consciousness level in stroke patients in the medical wards of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, from June ۲۰۰۵ to August ۲۰۰۶. methods: A questionnaire was prepared in accordance with the objectives of the study. The questionnaire contained detailed history, general physical examination, and neurological examination. Prognosis of the disease was studied with the help of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) (severity of unconsciousness) scoring system. results: One-hundred and eighty-three patients with established diagnosis of stroke were selected. Forty-seven (۲۵.۶۸%) had more than one risk factor. The age range of the patients was ۳۱-۹۲ years with mean age of ۵۷ years. Out of total, ۱۱۱ (۶۰.۶۵%) were male and ۷۲ (۳۹.۳۴%) were female. The distribution of risk factors was as follows: hypertension ۹۵ (۵۱.۹۱%), diabetes ۵۶ (۳۰.۶۰%), hyperlipidemia ۲۱ (۱۱.۴۷%), smoking ۲۳ (۱۲.۵۶%), ischemic heart diseases ۲۱(۱۱.۴۷%), atrial fibrillation ۵ (۲.۷۳%), obesity ۵ (۲.۷۳%), physical inactivity ۲ (۱.۰۹%), history of heparin or warfarin use ۲ (۱.۰۹%), and history of oral contraceptive use ۱ (۰.۵۴%). The prognosis of the disease based on the GCS scoring system (severity of unconsciousness) was studied only in ۱۲۲ (۶۶.۶۶%) patients. Out of ۱۲۲ patients, ۴۲.۶۲% had scores greater than ten, ۳۵.۲۴% between ۶ and ۱۰, and ۲۲.۱۳% less than five. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and smoking are major modifiable risk factors of stroke in our patients. More than half of the patients had unsatisfactory GCS scores, which indicates poorer prognosis.     Keywords: Stroke, Risk factors, Loss of consciousness, Peshawar.