Original Article

Risk factors and pattern of stroke in Islamabad, Pakistan

Arsalan Ahmad, Faika Usman, Ali Hassan
Objective
To determine the risk factors and pattern of stroke
in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Method
We collected retrospective data of all stroke
patients more than 16-years of age seen by the
neurology section over the previous two years and
reviewed the charts and the results of relevant
investigations. The results were analyzed using
SPSS version 10.0.
Results
There were a total of 250 patients, amongst them
160 male (64%), and 90 (36%) female. The mean
age was 63.3 years. 222 (88.8%) had ischemic
stroke while 28 (11.2%) had hemorrhagic stroke.
98 (39.2%) were diabetic, 65 (26%) were
smokers, 177 (70.8%) were hypertensive and 72
(28.8%) had ischemic heart disease. Serum lipid
profile was done in 198 patients and was

47

abnormal in 119 patients. Carotid Doppler was

done in 167 patients, 38 (22.7%) showed >50%
stenosis of which 12 (7.1%) had complete
occlusion. 29 (76%) had symptomatic carotid
artery stenosis. 189 (75.6%) were discharged
home, 10 (4%) died, 5 (2%) were transferred out
and 46 (18.4%) came for outpatient treatment
only. 206 (82.4%) had no complications, 13 had
recurrent stroke, 22 had sepsis, 6 had seizures
and 3 had deep venous thrombosis.
Conclusions
Hypertension is the most common risk factor for
stroke followed by dyslipidemia and diabetes
mellitus. Large artery strokes constituted the most
frequent ischemic stroke subtype. (Rawal Med J
2009; 34: 47-50).
Keywords
Stroke, CVA, risk factors.

Rawal Medical Journal: Vol. 34. No. 1, January-June 2009

Risk factors and pattern of stroke in Islamabad, Pakistan

Table 3. Comparison with other National and International Studies

Infarct/
hemorrhage
Male/female
Mean age
Hypertension

Ahmad A
present
study
88.8/11.2

Bhojo A1

Siddique
M11

Basharat
R 12

Deleu D 2

Basu A

Sacco S

76/24

87.5/12.5

79/21

Ischemic

Ischemic

Ischemic

2:1.1
63

1.3:1
61

1:1.01
55.5

1:1.1
53

3:2
53

70.8%

67%

77.5%

61%

39.2%

38%

36.6%

33%

28.8%

53%

30%

22%

26%

15%

21.2%

53%

60.7%

18%
_

57.5%

32%

31.4%
All pts

14%
Poor

1:3
61.2
77.4Arab
74.2Asian
64Arab
45Asian
43Arab
17Asian
46Arab
31Asian
59.4Arab
49.5Asian
34Arab
19Asian
Non
cardioembolic

120

100

Diabetes mellitus
Ischemic heart
disease
Smoking
Dyslipidaemia
Stenosis >50%
Patient Sample

Sample size
49

22.7%
All pts

250

Hypertension
+ Stroke
250

303

10

87.5%
20%
35%
25%
_
_
All pts

40

73
68.2L
64.2NL
23.2L
25.6NL
22.8L
24.8NL
32.4L
24.8NL
29.9L
25.5NL
_
Lacunar/
non
lacunar
3594

Rawal Medical Journal: Vol. 34. No. 1, January-June 2009

Risk factors and pattern of stroke in Islamabad, Pakistan

From Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Shifa

International Hospitals and College of Medicine, H-8/4, Islamabad.
Correspondence: Arsalan Ahmad, MD (Neurology), Assistant
Professor of Neurology, Shifa International Hospitals, Islamabad
Pakistan.
E-mail: drarsalan65@yahoo.com
Received: February 25, 2009 Accepted: March 12, 2009

50

Rawal Medical Journal: Vol. 34. No. 1, January-June 2009