Risk factors involved in the occurrence of ischemic stroke

Abstract

Introduction: About 60% to 80% of all ischemic strokes can be attributed to increasing blood pressure, blood cholesterol, smoking, diabetes mellitus and atrial fibrillation [American Heart Association, June 29 2006; Potential New Risk Factors for Ischemic Stroke. What Is Their Potential? Graeme J. Hankey]. Hypertension is the single most important modifiable risk factor for ischemic stroke. Various lifestyle factors have been associated with increased stroke risk. These include obesity, physical inactivity, diet, and acute triggers such as emotional stress. Obesity has been associated with higher levels of blood pressure, blood glucose, and atherogenic serum lipids, which are independent risk factors for stroke. Materials and Methods: Our study included 50 patients with hypertension and cognitive impairment, hospitalized in the cardiology department, Holy Trinity Hospital. We determined the association between MMSE score and incident CV events, adjusted for stroke, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, smoking and sedentary. We divided patients according to MMSE in 3 categories: 1. Lack of cognitive dysfunction: M M SE-24-30points; 2. Moderate cognitive dysfunction: M M SE-18-23points; 3. Severe cognitive dysfunction: 0-17points. Maximum score for MMSE is 30 points. The table shows that severe cognitive deficit is characteristic of patients with stroke, sedentary, diabetes mellitus. Moderate cognitive dysfunction was characteristic for smoking patients, diabetes mellitus and atrial fibrillation. Conclusion: Doctors have long called high blood pressure “the silent killer” because a person can have high blood pressure and never have any symptoms. Blood pressure is the most important risk factor in the occurrence of stroke. In our study we tried to demonstrate the relationship between high blood pressure and other risk factors involved in the occurrence stroke, and cognitive deficits caused by these.