Assessment of risk factors in Cerebrovascular accident patients: Beasat Hospital between 2000 and 2001

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is one of the common causes of disability and mortality. It is considered as fourth (or third in some others) cause of mortality in the world. Only one third of patients are improved completely. One third of cases lead to constant disability and the others die. There are several risk factors for CVA. The most important risk factors are age، sex، hypertension، cardiac diseases، diabetes، hypercholesterolemia and smoking. In this study، we evaluated the risk factors and their epidemiologic prevalence in patients with CVA admitted in Beasat Hospital. We also compare CVA frequency between military and nonmilitary persons. This descriptive study was performed with unlikely sampling on 150 patients with CVA admitted to neurology ward of Beasat Hospital during 2000 and 2001. Data were extracted from patient''s records، and then were analyzed by using SPSS software with appropriate statistical tests. Overall 37. 9% of patients referred to neurology ward were CVA patients. CVA was ischemic in 77%، ICH in 14%، and TIA in 9%. Of patients، 21%، 44% and 35% were military personnel، their families and nonmilitary persons respectively. Sixty eight percent of patients were >65 and 2. 6% of them were <40 years old. Males were 65. 3% of patients. Diabetes (60. 7%)، hypertension (88%) hyperlipidemia (59. 3%)، smoking (38%) and cardiac diseases (61%) were found in our patients. Frequencies of CVA risk factors in our study are similar with other studies. Also، occupational stress in military personnel is not considered as important risk factor of CVA.