Prevalence of stroke risk factors and their outcomes. A population-based longitudinal epidemiological study

This epidemiological study was performed to determine the prevalence of stroke risk factors and their outcomes among Bulgarian urban population. Volunteers, 200 men and 300 women, aged 50-79 years, without clinical signs and symptoms of vascular disease were enrolled in the study. A structured questionnaire, physical examination, ECG records and a battery of laboratory tests were employed. All volunteers underwent a carotid Duplex scan. High LDL-cholesterol levels, hypertension, obesity, cigarette smoking and cardiac diseases were the most prevalent risk factors. The annual incidence rate for TIA was 0.96% and for ischemic stroke -0.72%. Myocardial infarction incidence rate was 0.48%. Asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) of 50% or greater was significantly related to the cerebral ischemic events (OR: 4.74; 95% CI 1.24-18.16). The aggregation of ACS and alcohol abuse was also significantly associated with cerebral ischemic events (OR: 5.04; 95% CI 1.29-19.63).