Risk Factors for Stroke in Sulaimaniyah Iraqi Kurdistan Region-Iraq

Background: Stroke is a frequent medical problem and a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Several conditions and lifestyle factors have been associated with stroke. Aim: To evaluate risk factors in stroke patients in Sulaimani city. Results: 110 patients with stroke were included in this study, hypertension was found to be the most common risk factor in current study. Out of 110 cases, 83 (75.5%) were hypertensive. Peak stroke-prone age was (60 - 69) year for male, (70 - 79) year for female. We found a statistically significant relation between level of TSC, LDL with ischemic stroke (r = 0.4047, P < 0.0001) and (r = 0.4052 P < 0.0001) respectively. While there was a significant inverse relation between HDL and ischemic stroke (Correlation coefficient = ?0.4862, P < 0.0001). On the other hand, there was no significant relation between level of TG and ischemic stroke (r = 0.2403, P < 0.0114). Also correlation statistic between TSC/HDL, LDL/HDL and result of CT scan, showed that there is statistical significance correlation between infarction and value of atherogenic index, (r = 0.5301, P < 0.0001, r = 0.4990, P < 0.0001) respectively, but there is no correlation between haemorhage & the index. Conclusion: Hypertension is the leading risk factor of stroke. It is therefore essential to detect and treat hypertension at its outset. High value of atherogenic index mostly associated with ischemic stroke .while no relation found with haemorhagic stroke.