BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Stroke associated with many risk factors is a major public health problem in worldwide. The diagnosis and modification of risk factors is an important public health strategy to reduce the risk of stroke. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the risk factors of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic stroke.
METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 576 patients with a diagnosis of stroke, admitted to East Guilan Gilan and West Mazandaran Hospitals during 2009-2011. The required information was obtained from their records and recorded in checklist. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS16 through descriptive statistics (frequency, mean and standard deviation) and analytical statistics (chi-square and Fisher's exact test. The significant level was considered p <0.05
FINDINGS: 56%of patients were female. 57% of patients were between 61-80 years of age. 73% of patients had a history of hypertension. 68%of patients had a history of heart disease. 31% of patients had a history of diabetes and 54% of patients had a history of hyperlipidemia.
CONCLUSION: According to the results and role of heart and hypertension diseases on the incidence of stroke, it is recommended that more attention should be paid to the screening of the blood pressure especially in risk group such as the elderly.