Evaluation of Stroke Risk Factors among a Sample of Patients at Rizgary Teaching Hospital in Erbil/Iraq

Abstract

Background: Stroke was the second leading cause of death following heart disease in 2013 and was the major cause of permanent disability. The burden of stroke in terms of morbidity, mortality and disability is escalating. Despite the fact that stroke has a high burden globally, there’s insufficient data regarding risk factors and difference in risk factors between stroke subtypes in middle- and low-income countries like Iraq.

Objective: the aim of this study is to assess risk factors, clinical presentations and predictors of stroke subtypes among adult patients admitted to Rizgary teaching hospital, in Erbil province of KRG, Iraq.

Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at Rizgary Teaching Hospital for 3 consecutive months from June, 2022 to August, 2022. A questionnaire was used to collect data from patients’ interviews. Data was entered into SPSS Version 25. Stepwise binary logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of stroke subtypes.

Result: A total of 100 eligible stroke patients were recruited. The mean age was 59.2 ± ~14.0 years. Males comprised 58% of the studied group and females comprised 42% of the studied group. 89% of the total stroke cases were diagnosed as ischemic stroke and 11% were diagnosed as hemorrhagic stroke. The most common clinical presentation was left side weakness complained by 33% of the patients followed by right side weakness 21% and slurred speech 16%. Positive family history and past medical history of stroke are identified as independent predictors of hemorrhagic stroke.

Conclusion: The outcome of this study was similar to the available studies done in middle-and-low-income countries. Large-scale community health campaigns should be developed with an emphasis on educating the public on stroke risk factors and the identification of symptoms associated with stroke, due to their high priority worldwide.