Vascular Risk Factors in Ischemic Stroke Survivors: A Retrospective Study in Catalonia, Spain

Abstract

Background: The distribution of vascular risk factors (VRFs) and stroke management vary by geographic area. Our aim was to examine the percentage of the VRFs according to age and sex in ischemic stroke survivors in a geographical area on the Mediterranean coast of Southern Catalonia, Spain. Methods: This was a multicenter, observational, retrospective, community-based study of a cohort, the data of which we obtained from digital clinical records of the Catalan Institute of Health. The study included all patients with a confirmed diagnosis of ischemic stroke who were treated between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2020. Patients met the following inclusion criteria: residing in the study area, age ≥ 18 years, and presenting ≥1 modifiable vascular risk factor. The exclusion criteria were as follows: death patients (non-survivors) and patients without modifiable VRFs. We collected the demographic, clinical, and VRF variables of the total of 2054 cases included, and we analyzed the data according to age groups, sex, and number of VRFs. Results: Most of the patients included were in the 55–80 age group (n = 1139; 55.45%). Of the patients, 56.48% (n = 1160) presented ≤ 2 modifiable VRFs, and the age group <55 years old (67.01%) presented more VRFs. Hypertension and (>80 years old (38.82%)) and dyslipidemia (<55 years (28.33%)) were the most prevalent VRFs. In the age group 55–80 (69.59% men), the prevalence of VRFs was higher ((3–4 VRF (42.76%) and >4 VRF (5.35%)). Conclusions: These results suggest the presence of many VRFs in people diagnosed with ischemic stroke—although with a lower percentage compared to other studies—and the need for specific individualized interventions for the control of modifiable RFs related to primary and secondary prevention of stroke.