Prevalence of and factors associated with stroke in hypertensive patients in Thailand from 2014 to 2018: A nationwide cross-sectional study

Stroke is a significant cause of death and disability. In Thailand, it imposes a major health burden, and the prevalence of stroke is increasing, particularly in patients with hypertension (HT), diabetes mellitus (DM), and dyslipidemia (DLP). We aimed to determine the trends in the prevalence of stroke and the associated factors among Thai patients with HT. Nationwide cross-sectional studies were conducted annually in 2014, 2015 and 2018 based on data obtained from the Thailand DM/HT study. Nationally, representative patients with HT in Thailand were sampled with stratified one-stage cluster sampling. A total of 104,028 participants were included in this study. The prevalence of stroke remained constant, with prevalence rates of 4.0%, 3.8%, and 3.9% in 2014, 2015 and 2018, respectively (p for trend=0.221). Our findings suggested that the management of stroke patients who are covered by the universal coverage scheme should be evaluated. Effective interventions, including promoting smoking cessation, attenuating cholesterol levels, and controlling blood pressure should be provided to hypertensive patients to prevent ischemic stroke. Young adults with HT should be more concerned about the possibility of stroke. The use of prophylactic low-dose aspirin should be carefully monitored to prevent hemorrhagic stroke.