Objective:
The aim of this study was to review the risks associated with tobacco and alcohol use for patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular events.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed 480 inpatients diagnosed with stroke in our clinic between January 2008 and June 2011. The patients were divided into two groups, ischemic and hemorrhagic. Regularity of tobacco and alcohol consumption was recorded for both groups separately. We analyzed the results taken from data distribution, Chi-Square test and Odds ratio 95% Confidence Interval (CI). Results were considered significant at level p<0.05.
Results:
The whole group consisted of 261 (54%) males and 219 (46%) females and 80 (19.3%) ischemic stroke, 12 (18.5%) hemorrhagic stroke patients regularly used tobacco. Twentyone (5.1%) cases of ischemic stroke regularly used alcohol, but not all cases of hemorrhagic stroke used alcohol regularly. Statistically, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between tobacco and alcohol use in the ischemic and hemorrhagic groups.
Conclusion:
Tobacco and alcohol use for each type of stroke is an important modifiable risk factor for stroke prophylaxis. Patients who regularly use tobacco or alcohol should be advised to change their way of life.
Keywords: Cerebrovasculer disorder, smoking, alcohol