Risk factors of stroke
What are the most important risk factors for having a stroke?
The biggest predictor for ischemic stroke is prior stroke, and the second biggest risk factor is age.
The most important modifiable risk factor for stroke is hypertension. Other risk factors for ischemic stroke include diabetes and smoking.
A lipid profile with low high-density lipoprotein and high triglycerides is also associated with ischemic stroke, whereas high low-density lipoprotein is most closely associated with cardiac disease.
Cardiac diseases such as atrial fibrillation and valvular disease are ischemic stroke risk factors. The most significant risk factor for the commonest type of hemorrhagic stroke is hypertension.
