Investigating the Prevalence of Risk Factors Among Patients with Stroke Referred to Shahid Beheshti Yasuj Hospital During 2022 - 2023: A Descriptive Study

Background: Stroke is the second most common cause of pathogenesis and the leading cause of hospitalization due to neurological diseases, as well as the most common debilitating neurological disorder. The risk factors for both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke include high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Objectives: This descriptive study provides information about the frequency of stroke risk factors in Yasuj and aims to assist authorities in proper and more accurate planning for control and prevention. Methods: This study was conducted among 58 patients referred to Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Yasuj with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke confirmed by a neurologist. The sampling method was consecutive. The patients’ information, including age, gender, history of hypertension and diabetes, and clinical symptoms, was recorded in a questionnaire prepared for this purpose. The type of stroke and involved circulation were determined by a neurologist. The collected data were analyzed and reported using SPSS 18 software and descriptive statistics. Results: In the study, the most common type of stroke was ischemic (77.6%), with most cases being cryptogenic (57.8%), while hemorrhagic strokes accounted for 22.4%. Strokes involving anterior circulation accounted for the majority of cases (95.6%). Of the patients with stroke, 48.3% were male. The most common risk factors for stroke were hypertension, overweight, and cardiac diseases. Conclusions: Understanding risk factors is crucial for preventing both the initial and subsequent stages of disease. Given the high prevalence of stroke among the elderly, along with its complications and significant economic and social costs, physicians and health planners need to be aware of these risk factors for effective risk management. Moreover, a comprehensive understanding of these risk factors allows for implementing targeted prevention strategies tailored to individual patient profiles. Hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and hyperlipidemia have been identified as critical contributors to stroke risk, underscoring the necessity for regular screening and monitoring within at-risk populations.