FREQUENCY OF DYSLIPIDEMIA AMONG STROKE PATIENTS PRESENTING AT TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Background: Stroke remains one of the leading causes of mortality and long-term disability worldwide. Dyslipidemia is a recognized modifiable risk factor contributing to atherosclerosis and ischemic events. However, its frequency and distribution among different stroke subtypes remain variably reported in different populations. Objective: To determine the frequency of dyslipidemia among patients presenting with stroke to a tertiary care hospital and assess its distribution across ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke subtypes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital, Swat, over a period of six months. A total of 171 patients aged 20–75 years with CT-confirmed ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke were enrolled using non-probability consecutive sampling. Data on demographics, clinical history, and comorbidities were collected. Fasting lipid profiles were analyzed, and dyslipidemia was diagnosed based on standard criteria. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS v.21, with stratification and chi-square testing applied to assess associations. Results: Among 171 stroke patients, 128 (74.9%) had ischemic stroke and 43 (25.1%) had hemorrhagic stroke. Dyslipidemia was present in 96 patients (56.1%), with higher prevalence in ischemic stroke (64.1%) compared to hemorrhagic stroke (32.6%). Gender distribution of dyslipidemia was comparable between males (57.7%) and females (54.1%). Common comorbidities included hypertension (57.9%) and diabetes mellitus (37.4%). Conclusion: Dyslipidemia was frequently observed among stroke patients, particularly those with ischemic stroke. These findings support the inclusion of routine lipid screening in stroke evaluations and highlight the need for early interventions to reduce stroke burden through targeted lipid control strategies.