An Observational Study Of Risk Factors And Their Association With Carotid Intima- Media Thickness In Cases Of Ischemic Stroke

INTRODUCTION Currently, ischemic heart diseases and stroke are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and more than 80% of deaths occurring in the low and the middle-income countries. There are a number of risk factors associated with ischemic stroke; the important ones being hypertension, diabetes mellitus, tobacco use and hyperlipidemia. All the risk factors also contribute towards atherogenesis. Change in the carotid artery intima–media thickness (CIMT) is an indicator of generalized atherosclerosis. This study was conducted to find out correlation between risk factors and CIMT in the stroke patients of western Maharashtra. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This observational study was conducted in department of medicine from February 2013 to June 2014 to study the risk factors and their association with CIMT if any, in patients of stroke. Fifty stroke patients admitted in the medical ICU were studied. RESULTS Thirty-five patients out of 50 studied had ischemic stroke. Tobacco use (82%) and hypertension (80%) were the commonest risk factors for stroke followed by, dyslipidemia, obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus. Twenty-four (68.5%) out of 35 ischemic stroke patients had CIMT value more than 1.00 mm. Out of 35 ischemic stroke patients 15 had carotid stenosis; four severe (>70%), five moderate (50% - 70%) and six patients had mild (<50%) stenosis. Out of the patients with carotid stenosis, 13 patients had hypertension, 12 were tobacco user, 8 dyslipidemia and 6 had diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION Increased CIMT is a marker of generalized atherosclerosis and it correlates directly with other risk factors like age, tobacco use, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia.