PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS OF STROKE IN PATIENTS VISITED FOR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT) BRAIN AT PESHAWAR
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71000/rp2ehw44Keywords:
Computed Tomography, , Prevalence, Risk Factors, Ischemic Stroke, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, , PakistanAbstract
Background: Stroke continues to be a major global health challenge and is a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Pakistan. Early recognition of associated risk factors is crucial for improving clinical outcomes and guiding targeted prevention strategies. Neuroimaging, especially computed tomography (CT) of the brain, plays an essential role in the prompt identification and classification of stroke subtypes.
Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of stroke among patients who underwent CT brain imaging in public and private hospitals of Peshawar.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over six months, from January to June 2025, in radiology departments of tertiary care hospitals across Peshawar. A total of 323 patients aged 30 years and above, who presented with clinical suspicion of stroke, were included through non-probability consecutive sampling. Data were collected using a structured proforma covering demographic, clinical, and lifestyle variables. CT brain scans were interpreted to categorize stroke as ischemic, hemorrhagic, or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic characteristics, while chi-square tests evaluated associations between stroke type and risk factors, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05.
Results: Out of 323 patients, males constituted 69.7%, and the majority (53.9%) were aged 46–60 years. Hypertension (44.9%) and diabetes mellitus (25.1%) were the most frequent comorbidities, while smoking (46.4%) and physical inactivity (46.4%) were the most common lifestyle risks. Ischemic stroke was detected in 66.3% of patients, followed by hemorrhagic stroke (26.9%) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (6.8%). Significant associations were found between stroke subtype and hypertension (p = 0.02), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.03), and smoking (p = 0.04).
Conclusion: The study demonstrates that stroke in Peshawar is predominantly ischemic and strongly linked with modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and physical inactivity. Preventive strategies emphasizing early detection, community-based education, and lifestyle modification are vital to reducing stroke incidence and improving outcomes in high-risk populations.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Basit, Alia Wazir, Salman Khan, Muhammad Sohail, Abdul Salam, Abdul Wadood (Author)
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