COMMON MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS FOR STROKE

Background: Stroke remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A substantial proportion of strokes are preventable through the management of modifiable risk factors. Early identification and control of these factors are essential for effective stroke prevention strategies. Objective: To assess the frequency of common modifiable risk factors among patients diagnosed with stroke. Study Design: Observational study. Setting: Department of Medicine at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. Duration of Study: July 2024 to January 2025. Methods: A total of 120 stroke patients aged 45 years or older were included in the study. Stroke type was classified as ischemic or hemorrhagic based on clinical evaluation and confirmed via neuroimaging (CT or MRI). Data were collected on the presence of modifiable risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, smoking, and poor dietary habits. Descriptive statistics were used to report frequencies and percentages. Results: The mean age of patients was 57.95 ± 7.01 years. Of the total cases, 77.5% were ischemic strokes, and 22.5% were hemorrhagic. The most common modifiable risk factors identified were hypertension (53.3%), diabetes mellitus (38.3%), and obesity (20.0%). Conclusion: This study highlights a high prevalence of modifiable risk factors—particularly hypertension, diabetes, and obesity—among stroke patients. Targeted interventions aimed at controlling these factors may significantly reduce the burden of stroke in at-risk populations.