oa Risk factors of cerebrovascular accidents among survivors in the Gaza Strip: A case-control study

Background: Cerebrovascular Accident or stroke is a global health problem and is a leading cause of disability. It is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide.

Materials and methods: A retrospective case-control study carried out on stroke patients admitted to the main Ministry of Health hospitals from May to November 2014. The study consisted of 110 proved cases of stroke and 110 controls (selected from patients who attended the study hospital for conditions other than stroke). For each case of stroke, one control was selected. The controls matched to cases in respect to age ( ± 3 years), sex and locality. Analyses performed by calculation of Chi-Square test and confidence interval using SPSS program version 20.

Results: Out of 110 patients, (61.8%) were females and (38.2%) males. Mean age of cases was 65.80 years compared to 65.46 for controls. Most of them were living in Gaza city. The ischemic type found in 81.8% patients. The most important medical risk factors associated with CVA was diabetes mellitus and hypertension; which represent 61.9% diabetes mellitus among cases compared to 38.1% among controls (P-value < 0.001) and represent 61.4% among hypertension cases compared to 38.6% among controls (P-value < 0.001). For cardiac disorders, 60.3% of cases compared to 39.7% of controls have cardiac disorders (P-value < 0.021). For lifestyle risk factors, obese represent 56.9% among cases compared to 43.1% among controls (P-value < 0.010), smoking represent 63.6% among cases compared to 36.4% among controls (P-value < 0.001). Sedentary level represent 78.2% among cases compared to 21.8% among controls, (P-value < 0.001) and stress represent 83.8% among cases compared to 16.2% among controls, (P-value < 0.001).

Conclusion: Hypertension and diabetes are the biggest risk factors for stroke in, which can be controlled with appropriate medication and lifestyle changes.