Risk factors and types of recurrent stroke.

Objective: To identify the types and risk factors of recurrent stroke. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Medicine, Nishtar Hospital Multan. Study Period: January to June 2021. Material & Methods: One hundred twenty patients diagnosed as recurrent stroke admitted in Nishtar Hospital Multan in the study period. Results: Sixty six patients (55%) were female. Mean age of patients was 63.14± 15.28 years. Sixty three (52.5%) were from urban areas. Ninety one (75.8%) patients had ischemic stroke (one (0.8%) had venous infarction) and 29 (24.2%) had intracerebral hemorrhage. Risk factors observed were hypertension present in 91 patients (75.8%), diabetes mellitus in 49 (40.8 %), heart disease in 47 (39.2%), dyslipidemia in 42(35%) and smoking in 24 (20%) patients. Sixty four (53.35%) patients had more than one risk factor. Conclusion: Common risk factors of recurrent stroke in our population are old age, female gender, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and smoking. Recurrence is more common after cerebral infarction. Modifiable risk factors should be controlled to prevent a second event.