Risk Factors of Stroke in Pathumthani Province, Thailand

To study risk factors of stroke in Pathumthani.

Pathumthani comprises of seven districts. One sub-district was selected from each district. The subject group was those aged 30 years or older Staffs of Sub-District Health Promotion Hospitals were trained to assist in the data gathering based on questionnaires on blood sugar and lipid levels. The staffs conduct cross-sectional analyses of the information.

Of 714 subjects, most were female (66.9%). The average age was 56 years (SD 10.7). Forty-six point two percent had their body mass index of 25 kg/m2 or more. Fifty-six point four percent had larger waist circumference than average. Sixty point eight percent had their cholesterol levels over 200 mg/dl while 14.9% had their blood sugar levels of 126 mg/dl or higher Seven subjects (1.0%) had stroke. As for the risk factors, 32.4% had hypertension; 16.9% had hyperlipidemia; 13.1% had diabetes mellitus; 8.9% smoked and 2.0% had heart diseases. Forty-eight point seven percent had at least one risk factor, among these, 55.2%, 29.9%, 12.0%, 2.9% and 0.0% had one, two, three, four andfive factors, respectively.

The prevalence rate of stroke in Pathumthani was one in 100 people aged 30 years or older. The observed important risk factor of stroke was hypertension. Nearly half of the subjects had at least one risk factor Suggested ways in changing the behaviors are the control of the disease, the diets and the increasing physical exercise.