Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death in the Czech Republic. From 1958, we observe a decrease in mortality from cardiovascular disease as well as reduced incidence, including the incidence of stroke.
Analysis of combined incidence of ischemic stroke in our country showed higher proportion of recurrence than in other western European countries. The incidence is affected by a post-stroke patient risk profile.
The aim of this research was to determine a proportion of patients with major risk of stroke (risk profile) in the Czech Republic. High incidence of risk factors might significantly contribute to high recurrence of stroke in our country.
Methods and results: Total of 15,880 patients from 13 centers were entered into the IKTA register between 2010 and 2011. Risk factors (RF) were identified from anamnestic data, or based on abnormality detected and repeatedly verified with laboratory (or other) tests during hospitalization for acute stroke.
We evaluated occurrence of three major well-definable RFs: hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus (DM). Arterial hypertension was identified in 86.2% of patients and was followed by dyslipidemia (58.2%).
DM was present in 34.9% of patients. Three or more RFs were found in 80.7% of post-stroke patients, the most common was a combination of four RFs (20.5%).
Conclusion: The incidence of RFs in patients after ischemic stroke in our study is significantly higher than that stated in the literature and this unfavorable risk profile may be the main cause of the high incidence of stroke and its recurrence.