[Stroke in the hands of the internist. Cardiovascular risk factors].
BACKGROUND
This study has aimed to describe cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) associated to stroke and their detection and monitoring during the acute episode and the recommendations on hospital discharge. The hypothesis was to check if the integral care of the internist improved the care to these patients.


METHODS
The clinical histories of patients who had suffered a stock between January 2002 and December 2003 were reviewed, obtaining different biological and clinical variables.


RESULTS
We obtained a total of 727 patients suffering cerebral vascular disease (CVD). Of these, 194 (26.7%) patients were discharged from the Emergency Department and 533 required hospitalization. The most frequent etiology was atherothrombotic ischemia, except in patients under 45 years in which it was the undetermined. The most prevalent CVRF was arterial hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
Action on the CVRFs during admission and at the time of discharge was deficient. Secondary prevention programs of CVRF in stroke are required to improve care, quality of life and decrease relapse risk.
Sanclemente Ansó
C
C
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General de Vic, Barcelona, España. csanclemente@hgv.cat
Pedragosa Vall
A
A
Rovira Pujol
E
E
Vigil Martín
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult