Risk Factors for Stroke among Non-diabetic Hypertensive Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Goa: A Case Control Study

Abstract

Background: Worldwide, stroke has gained more attention recently due to high mortality and morbidity. Hypertension accounts for 51% of stroke deaths. Anecdotal evidence suggests rising trend of stroke among non-diabetic hypertensive patients.  Current study was undertaken considering this rising trend among non-diabetic hypertensive patients, its mortality and the economic burden faced by the patient and his families. Methodology: A hospital based, group matched case-control study was conducted over one year among non-diabetic hypertensive patients presenting with and without stroke respectively (150: 150). Data was collected and entered using Epicollect 5 application and analysed using SPSS version 22.                   Conclusions: On univariate analysis, noncompliance to antihypertensive medications, regular use of added salt, smoking, alcohol, obesity, long duration of hypertension, raised systolic and diastolic BP and high total cholesterol were identified as the risk factors for stroke among hypertensive non diabetic individuals while, regular use of statins had protective effect. Obesity, long standing hypertension, raised diastolic BP, use of added salt were the significant risk factors identified by binary logistic regression. Majority of the factors were preventable; hence we need to develop preventive strategies for risk assessment and provide interventions to decrease stroke burden among hypertensives.