A prospective study of primary and secondary risk factor management in stroke patients

Stroke is a common event which often results in death or major loss of independence with immense human and financial costs, so identification of patients at risk, and prevention of stroke at the individual and population levels, is a high clinical and health priority. From August 1993 to July 1994, 468 stroke patients admitted to our hospital were assessed for the presence of stroke risk factors. All patients were followed up in hospital, and on discharge or death all hospital records were reviewed. We show that many risk factors remain uncorrected in stroke patients and that preventive measures are less than ideal at the community and hospital levels alike.