Risk factors associated with cerebrovascular disease mortality,Armenia,Colombia, 2008

Introduction: Worldwide, cerebrovascular disease is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in adults. It shares both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors with cardiovascular disease; primary prevention of its occurrence through the promotion of healthy life styles and the application of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments constitutes a public health priority. Objective: To determine the frequency of cerebrovascular disease and its mortality rate and to define its relation with some risk factors. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out. Three hundred and eighteen clinical histories of patients with a cerebrovascular disease diagnosis, admitted to a tertiary level hospital between 2005 and 2007, in Armenia (Colombia) were included in the study. Frequency of risk factors and their relationship with mortality rate and the types of cerebrovascular disease were analyzed. Results: Average age was 72 years, and mortality rate, 29.9%. Ischemic cerebrovascular disease constituted 61.9% of the cases, while hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease caused 38.1%; the respective mortality rates were 21.3% and 43.8%. The most frequent risk factors were hypertension (74.5%), the habit of smoking (23.3%), previous ischemic cardiopathy or cerebrovascular disease (15.4%) and diabetes (15.1%). The following factors were associated with mortality: admission to intensive care unit (OR 5.8), diastolic arterial blood pressure higher than 100 (OR 3.1) and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease (OR 2.9). Conclusions: Hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accidents occur less frequently than the ischemic ones but they are associated with higher mortality rates. Secondary prevention programs are necessary for adequate control of risk factors such as high blood pressure. Besides, healthier life styles should be promoted.