Sağlık Bakanlığı İzmir Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon ve Nöroloji Kliniği, İzmir, Türkiye

Objective: This study was designed to determine the risk factors in patients with stroke and to evaluate the relationship between the risk factors and functional independence. Materials and Methods: One-hundred patients with stroke (46 men, 54 women) were enrolled in the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were documented. The risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiac disease, history of transient ischemic attack (TIA), atrial fibrillation were ascertained. Functional independence was assessed by Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and functional status was assessed by modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results: The mean age was 66.2±10.6 years. Eighty six percent of patients had ischemic stroke. The most common risk factor of our patients was hypertension, followed by cigarette smoking, history of TIA, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and congestive heart disease. It was observed that only history of TIA correlated with FIM score (r=-0.302, p=0.002) and mRS (r=0.223, p=0.026). The history of TIA explained 29% of variation for FIM [β=-18,695 p=0.004, 95% CI (-31.1759)-(-6.216)] and 24% of variation for mRS [β=0.530 p=0.017, 95% CI 0.095-0.965]. Conclusion: The most common risk factor of our patients was hypertension. Among the investigated risk factors, the presence of history of TIA has showed the most predictive effect on the functional independence. Determination of the risk factors for stroke which are specific for our population, patient education, and proper treatment of person who have risk factors will provide the prevention of stroke and also disability.