The impact of non-compliance with the therapeutic regimen on the development of stroke among hypertensive men and women in Gaza, Palestine.
OBJECTIVE
Hypertension and stroke are 2 major public health problems worldwide. Several biological and non-biological risk factors for stroke have been identified in the past. Little is known regarding risk factors for stroke among the Arabic population in Gaza. To identify potential risk factors we investigated compliance with the therapeutic regimen and life style factors which may increase the risk for stroke.


METHODS
To research this study question, a pair matched case control study was conducted in Gaza Strip (Shefa Hospital, Nasser Hospital, Khan Younis Hospital, and related primary health care clinics) in 2001 (from January through to December) among 112 patients, who had been hospitalized for acute stroke and history of hypertension, and 224 controls with history of hypertension from primary health care clinics.


RESULTS
Conditional logistic regression models show significant associations between stroke and medication not taking as prescribed (odds ratio (OR)=6.07; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.53, 24.07), using excessive salt at meals (OR=4.51; 95% CI=2.05, 9.90), eating diet high in fat (OR=4.67; 95% CI=2.09, 10.40), and high levels of stress (OR=2.77; 95% CI=1.43, 5.38). No significant association between smoking and the development of stroke (OR=2.12; 95 CI 0.82, 5.51) was found. Regular physical exercise was a protective factor (OR=0.26; 95% CI=0.12, 0.57).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results on risk factors for stroke confirm several other studies. In future programs on health promotion among hypertensive men and women in Gaza these modifiable risk factors could be addressed by health education strategies.
Baune
Bernhard T
BT
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Street 11, D-48129 Muenster, Germany. bbaune@uni-muenster.de.
Aljeesh
Yousef I
YI
Bender
Ralf
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018912:Arabs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents