AGE AND GENDER SPECIFIC STROKE RISK FACTORS IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

Objective: to determine age and gender specific stroke risk factors in a teaching hospital in khyber pakhtunkhwa. methodology: a hospital based descriptive study was performed in medical units of lady reading hospital, peshawar, from july 2011 to march 2012. a total of 100 patients of 18 years and above and of both genders were included. study patients with first-ever acute stroke were divided into three groups; group a young adult (<40 years), group b, middle-aged (40-60 years), and group c elderly (>60 years). in these 03 groups, stroke risk factors were compared. patients were assessed for hypertension, ischemic heart disease, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus and smoking. spss version 18.0 was used for statistical analysis. results: a sample of 100 patients was taken comprising 68% males and 32% females. study patients had a mean age of 63.44 ±13.849. there were 08 patients in group a, 29 in group b, and 63 patients in group c. overall, hypertension was found in (62%), followed by smoking (47%), coronary artery disease (33%), diabetes mellitus (28%), hyperlipidemia (24%) and atrial fibrillation (21%). conclusion: pattern of distribution of stroke risk factors is age and gender specific. majority were found to have hypertension. hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation and hyperlipidemia differ significantly among the 03 age groups. smoking was significantly different in males and females.