Role of Hypertension as a Major Risk Factor of Stroke in Africa; Libya: Community Based Survey
Journal Title: Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research - Year 2015, Vol 9, Issue 5
Abstract
Hypertension is a very common medical disorder and a major health problem in North Africa. Hypertension is associated with an increase in the risk of stroke and hospitalization. Objectives: To estimate the importance of hypertension (HT) as a stroke predisposing risk factor among people living in Libyan community using both CHADS2 and Community Stroke Risk Classification (CSRC). Methodology: Area; North Africa (North of Libya, the capital Tripoli). Time; Five years from 2010-2014. The study was a community based descriptive cross-section, which screened 7497 individuals living in local communities, looking for risk factors of stroke. Hypertension was one of the factors which was studied in details by community physicians, among this population whom have HT were diagnosed by their past histories, medical reports, hospital discharge letters, whether they were taking any treatment or on a diet for hypertension and also medical examinations were conducted to confirm diagnosis by measuring blood pressures. Results: The prevalence of HT among study participants (7497 individuals) was 38% (2850 patients), among males and females was 50.2% and 49.8% respectively (P =0.041). Among different age groups, males had higher rates than females except for age intervals of 50-59 and ≥80 where females had higher rates. The male to female ratio among the total population screened was almost similar (19%: 18.9%). HT prevalence rose with the increase of age, with higher rates among age groups of over 40 (P <0.0001). 53% of hypertensive patients had: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) (1538 patients), 27.3% had Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) (778 patients), 15.6% had Atrial Fibrillation (AF) (446 patients), 26.7% had Transient Ischemic attack (TIA) (761 patients), and 14.8% had prior stroke (PS) (423 patients), All these risk factors accompanying hypertension rose with increase of age (P<0.0001). 99.9% of hypertensive patients had risk points of stroke on the CHADS2 scoring system (0.1% had no risk points), from that 53% had intermediate scores (1-2 Risk Points) and 47% had high scores (≥3 risk points). Results of CSRC score showed that 99.9% of hypertensive patients had risk factors of stroke (0.1% had no risk factors), from whom 56% had intermediate scores (1-2 Risk Factors) and 54% had high scores (≥3 risk factors). Conclusion: Hypertension is a major risk factor of stroke among the North African Libyan population and many, of whom have HT, had very high risk scores in CHADS2 which mainly concentrates on 1-6 risk points (P<0.0001). Almost all hypertensive patients had risk factors of stroke on CSRC scores which was generally contributed to intermediate and high scores. CHADS2 & CSRC classification scores are very useful tools to be used to classify and describe the risk factors of stroke in a population of a community regardless of having hypertension or not.
Authors and Affiliations
Mohamed Kaled A. Shambesh, Taher Mohamed Emahbes, Zeinab Elmehdi Saleh, Malik Abdurrazag A. Elosta, Iman Mohamed Shambesh
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP347676
- DOI 10.9734/BJMMR/2015/18897
- Views 37
- Downloads 0
Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors and Cardiovascular Risk: Retrospective Study of 50 Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Chronic Heart Failure
Objectives: The choice of antidiabetics in patients with heart failure is a major clinical concern. Some antidiabetic agents such as thiazolidinediones, more or less sulfonamides and insulin increase the risk of exacerba...
Clinical Features and Autopsy Findings in Fulminant Hepatic Failure by Exertional Heat Stroke: Case Report
A healthy 48 year-old man became unconscious suddenly, with a corporal temperature of 43ºC when participating in a strenuous motorcycle off-road competition in the last 2 days in southeastern Brazil on a very hot and hum...
Impacts of Beautiful Natural Surroundings on Happiness: Issues of Environmental Disruption, Food, Water Security and Lifestyle in Modern Times
Purpose: Recently, purpose in life (PIL) drawn from existentialism and the concept of ikigai [meaning in his/her life] from Japanese classical literature have been recognized as effective ways to manage stress. PIL/ikiga...
Evaluation of TLR2 and TLR4 Polymorphisms in Chronic HBV Infection
Aims: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a central role in initiating innate response by mediating inflammatory reactions against a wide range of pathogens. We aimed to determine if TLR2 Arg753Gln, TLR4 Asp299Gly and Thr399...
Phenytoin Induced Changes in Glucose and Lipid Metabolism is Related to Increased Urate Synthesis
Aim: The study was to investigate the relationship of phenytoin-associated hyperuricaemia with the hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia caused by phenytoin administration. Methods: Forty-two albino Wistar rats were randomly...