Risk factors and knowledge about stroke prevention among females aged 40-80 years – preliminary report

Introduction:
Stroke is one of the most serious diseases of the modern world, being a cause of disability and death. The main objective of the study was to learn about the risk factors for stroke among women in the neurology department aged 40-80 years and their knowledge of primary and secondary prevention of stroke.

Material and methods:
The study was conducted between December 2021 and March 2022 among 72 female patients hospitalised in one of the hospitals in the Małopolskie Voivodeship. A diagnostic survey method was used to conduct the study. The research tool was a questionnaire of our own authorship. The collected data were analysed using the STATISTICA software package.

Results:
Most of the women surveyed were overweight, obese, or second-degree obese. As a predisposing factor for stroke, most respondents (90%) indicated age over 55 years and genetic factors (69%). As many as 75% of the respondents answered that diet has an impact on the incidence of stroke; however, 47% stated that they do not take care of their diet and do not follow dietary recommendations. For the respondents, the main condition predisposing to stroke is high blood pressure. The majority of the respondents (54%) declared compliance with preventive recommendations, but a significant proportion of them (60%) do not undertake any physical activity.

Conclusions:
The majority of the women surveyed are aware of the risk factors and primary and secondary prevention of stroke, but do not engage in any physical activity, and almost half of them do not follow dietary recommendations. The vast majority of them suffer from high blood pressure and have increased body weight.