What are the main risk factors for having an episode of stroke?
6.1. Risk factors
This CPG presents the risk factors for having a stroke, including modifiable and non-modifiable factors, and provides recommendations for the main factors for which there are interventions available to reduce risk (Table 3). The recommendations presented are situated within the context of their specific impact on stroke, despite being closely linked with overall reduction of vascular risk.
Table 3. Modifiable risk factors of ischemic stroke36
| Non-modifiable | Strong association | Weak association |
|---|---|---|
| - Age - Sex - Race - Low birth weight - Hereditary factors |
- Hypertension - Smoking - Diabetes mellitus - Atrial fibrillation - Hypercholesterolemia - Carotid artery stenosis - Falciform cell disease - Hormone therapy - Alcoholism - Left ventricular hypertrophy - Hypercoagulability - Previous ischemic stroke or TIA |
- Metabolic syndrome - Drug use - Oral contraceptives - Migraine - Hyperhomocysteinemia - Elevated Lp(a) - Inflammation and infection - Obesity and body fat distribution - Physical inactivity - Dietary factors - Certain embolic cardiopathies - Others: obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, certain inflammatory conditions or infections |
Adapted from: Diez Tejedor E, Fuentes B, Gil Núñez AC, Gil Peralta A, Matías Guiu J, by the ad hoc committee of the SEN’s Study Group for Cerebrovascular Diseases. “Guía para el tratamiento preventivo de la isquemia cerebral”. En: Guía para el tratamiento y prevención del ictus. Guidelines and protocols of the SEN. In Díez Tejedor (ed.). Ed. ISBN: 84-8124-225-X. Barcelona: Prous Science, 2006: 133-183.
- 36. Díez Tejedor E, Fuentes B, Gil Núñez AC, Gil Peralta A, Matías Guiu J, por el comité ad hoc del Grupo de Estudio de Enfermedades Cerebrovasculares de la SEN. Guía para el tratamiento preventivo de la isquemia cerebral. En: Díez Tejedor, editor. Guía para el diagnostico y tratamiento del ictus.Guías oficiales de la Sociedad Española de Neurología. Barcelona: Prous Science; 2006:133-183.
Figures and Tables
Table 3. Modifiable risk factors of ischemic stroke 
(pdf, 20 Kb)
Latest update: Enero 2009
