Clinical & Experimental Cardiology
Open Access

Abstract

Risk Factors in the Development of Stroke in an Outpatient Cardiology Practice

Hoang M. Lai, Wilbert S. Aronow, Anthony D. Mercando, Phoenix Kalen, Harit V. Desai, Kaushang Gandhi, Mala Sharma, Harshad Amin and Trung M. Lai

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors in the development of stroke in an outpatient cardiology practice.

Methods: Chart reviews were performed in 1,599 patients (1138 men and 461 women), mean age 72 ± 12 years. Medication use and comorbidities were tabulated for each patient. Stepwise Cox regression analyses were used to analyze 45 different variables for statistical significance. The mean follow-up duration was 63 ± 55 months during 1977 to 2009.

Results: Of the 1, 599 patients, stroke occurred in 48 patients (3%) during follow-up. Stepwise Cox regression analysis showed significant independent risk factors for new stroke were statins (hazard ratio = 0.2656, 95% CI, 0.1480 to 0.4766, p <0.0001), carotid artery stenosis (hazard ratio = 3.7292, 95% CI, 1.7960 to 7.7433, p<0.001), and congestive heart failure (hazard ratio = 2.1369, 95% CI, 1.1046 to 4.1340, p <0.05).

Conclusions: In an outpatient cardiology practice, use of statins reduced the incidence of stroke by 73%. Carotid artery stenosis and congestive heart failure increased the risk of developing stroke by 3.7 times and 2.1 times, respectively.