title: Risk factors in various subtypes of ischemic stroke according to TOAST criteria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the frequency of risk factors in various subtypes of acute ischemic stroke according to TOAST criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi, from January to December 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled. Studied variables included demographic profile, history of risk factors, physical and neurological examination, and investigations relevant with the objectives of the study. Findings were described as frequency percentages. Proportions of risk factors against subtypes was compared using chi-square test with significance at p < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the 100 patients with acute ischemic stroke, mean age at presentation was 63.5 years. Risk factor distribution was hypertension in 85%, Diabetes mellitus in 49%, ischemic heart disease in 30%, dyslipedemia in 22%, smoking in 9%, atrial fibrillation in 5%, and previous history of stroke in 29%. The various subtypes of acute ischemic stroke were lacunar infarct in 43%, large artery atherosclerosis in 31%, cardioembolic type in 8%, stroke of other determined etiology in 1% and stroke of undetermined etiology in 18%. Hypertension and Diabetes were the most important risk factors in both large and small artery atherosclerosis. In patients with cardio-embolic stroke significant association was found with ischemic heart disease (p=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Importance and relevance of risk factors evaluated for subtypes rather than ischemic stroke as a whole should be reflected in preventive efforts against the burden of ischemic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Ziauddin University Hospital, North Campus, Karachi. nadia_aquil@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aquil
authors.forename: Imtiaz
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Begum
authors.forename: Arshia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Ejaz Ahmed
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Vohra
authors.forename: Bashir Ahmed
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Soomro
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*