Frequency of Hypertension among Ischemic Stroke Patients

Abstract

Background: Ischemic stroke has proven to be a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in the global patient populace. Hypertension has emerged as a prominent risk factor for the development of recurrent ischemic strokes. The establishment of the prevalence of hypertension in ischemic stroke patients will help in developing strategies to effectively manage the condition. Objective: To determine the frequency of hypertension among patients presenting with ischemic stroke. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Duration and Place of Study: This study was conducted from December 2023 to June 2024 in the Department of General Medicine Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals Swat. Methodology: A total of 128 patients of either gender aged 28 to 70 years with confirmed ischemic stroke were included. Diagnosis of ischemic stroke was based on clinical assessment and computed tomography scan of brain without contrast. Blood pressure was measured using a sphygmomanometer and hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg or history of antihypertensive medication use. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26. Results: The mean age of patients was 48.20 ± 12.41 years. Out of 128 ischemic stroke patients 96 patients 75.00% were found to have hypertension. Hypertension was significantly more common in patients aged above 50 years as compared to younger patients with a p value of 0.002. A borderline significant association was observed between hypertension and diabetes with a p value of 0.051. Conclusion: Hypertension is highly prevalent among patients with ischemic stroke and remains a major modifiable risk factor.