Risk factors for developing diabetes in patients who have suffered a stroke

Abstract

Background. Diabetes mellitus (DM) and stroke are two important pathological conditions with a major impact on public health, disrupting both quality of life and life expectancy. People who have suffered a stroke are at greater risk of developing diabetes mellitus in the following years than the general population. Objective(s). The main purpose of the study was to identify and analyze the risk factors involved in the development of diabetes mellitus in individuals with the antecedents of stroke. Materials and methods. A retrospective and prospective study was conducted in the Neurology Department of Comrat District Hospital and Comrat Health Center. The study included 150 stroke survivors within the past 2 years. Type 2 diabetes risk was assessed using the FINDRISC scale, with evaluation of fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels and lipid profiles. Results. The present study included 78 male and 72 female subjects with a mean age of 70±9.66 years. Among the risk factors for developing diabetes mellitus in individuals with a history of stroke were abdominal obesity, hypertension, family history of diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and reduced physical activity post-stroke. The investigation examined the impact of pharmacological treatment with glucocorticoids administered during the hospitalization period on glucose metabolism parameters. The study analyzed the spectrum of carbohydrate metabolism disorders, including both diabetes mellitus and prediabetic states, in the stroke survivors. Conclusion(s). Early assessment and identification of risk factors for developing DM in individuals with a history of cerebrovascular accident, along with monitoring and modification of modifiable factors, enable implementation of preventive strategies to reduce diabetes incidence and associated complications.