title: Status of Vitamin D and its Association with Stroke Risk Factors in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke in a Tertiary Care Hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with many neurological illnesses. The status of Vitamin D in Nepalese ischemic stroke patients is still unknown. This study aims to assess the status of vitamin D and its association with stroke risk factors in patients with acute ischemic stroke from Central Nepal.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 patients with ischemic stroke were included in the study. Their clinical profile and Vitamin D status were assessed. Frequency distribution, Pearson χ2test and Kruskal-Wallis test were performed for statistical analysis using SPSS-IBM 20.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median (IQR) age of the patient was 65 (53.25, 70.75) years, ranging from 18-87 years. Thirty-four (56.7%) were males. Fourty-eight (80%) patients had hypertension and 34 (56.7%) were smoker. Previous stroke was present in six (10%) cases. Thirty-seven (61.6%) patients had low levels of Vitamin D out of which 26 (43.3%) had vitamin D insufficiency and 11 (18.3%) had vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D level was significantly associated with previous history of stroke (P=0.043).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D deficiency occurs in patients with ischemic stroke. Previous episodes of stroke with low vitamin D levels could be a cause of recurrent strokes. Further studies are necessary to establish the role of vitamin D in acute ischemic stroke in Nepalese population.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Neurological and Allied Sciences, Bansbari, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thapa
authors.affiliation: Khairanitar Primary Health Center, Nuwakot, Nepal.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.affiliation: College of Medical Sciences-Teaching Hospital, Chitwan, Nepal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pradhan
authors.affiliation: Jutpani Primary Health Center, Chitwan, Nepal.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Bhandari
authors.affiliation: Shree Medical and Technical College, Chitwan, Nepal.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.affiliation: Chitwan Medical College Teaching Hospital, Chitwan, Nepal.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Poudel
authors.affiliation: Grande International Hospital, Dhapasi, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poudel
authors.affiliation: Kathmandu University Medical College, Dhulikhel, Nepal.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pokhrel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: deficiency; nepal; stroke; vitamin D.