HYPERLIPIDAEMIC DISORDERS AND CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENTS IN THE PROVINCE OF BUSHEHR: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY.

Abstract

Background: For tens of years, the benefit of reducing serum lipid levels in stroke prevention has been debated.  Recent prospective trials have shown, however, that the use of pravastatin is effective in reducing the incidence of stroke.

Methods: In order to determine the range of hyperlipidaemic disorders present in stroke victims in the province of Bushehr, 204 consecutive cases of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) (113 men and 91 women) hospitalised at the Fatemeh-ye Zahra Hospital in Bushehr underwent serum lipid profiling within 48 hours of stroke onset.

Results: 67.6% of the patients were in their seventh or eighth decade of life.  The prevalence, as reported by computer tomography, of haemorrhagic stroke (intracranial + subarachnoid haemorrhages), ischaemic stroke, and non-specific changes was 24.6, 31.4 and 25 percent, respectively.  31 cases (15.2%) were transient ischaemic attacks.  57.5% of patients had a history of hypertension, 21.4% of diabetes mellitus, 51.5% of smoking, and 35.8% of visceral obesity.  50.5% of patients had a serum total cholesterol level of ≥200mg/dl; 32.6% had serum triglyceride levels of ≥150mg/dl, 28.4% had HDL-C levels <35mg/dl, and 51.1% of patients had LDL-C levels of ≥130mg/dl.  There was a correlation in men between smoking and LDL-C<130mg/dl.

Conclusion: Lipoprotein disorders and an abnormal serum lipid profile are common findings in CVA patients in the province of Bushehr.