Carotid Doppler-Related Risk Factors in Ischemic Stroke Patients Admitted to Al-Sadder Teaching Hospital, Al-Najaf Province, Iraq

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported an increase in the number of deaths among Iraqi citizens due to strokes. This paper aims to assess and discuss the use of Doppler imaging in radiological evaluations, with a particular focus on the identification of risk factors. The risk factors associated with stroke in the current cohort of patients were compared with those identified in a previous study conducted in Iraq.

The research comprised in-patients from 4 February 2022 to 20 May 2023, with stroke diagnostic tests including ECG (electrocardiogram), 2D-M mode echocardiography, brain CT scan, and carotid Doppler. The male gender exhibited a higher mean age than their female counterparts (p < 0.01). Among male patients, 28 (43.75%) were above 70 years old, while among women, 20 (41.67%) were.

The most common risk factors for older patients (≥70 years) are hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. In the event that abnormalities were identified, patients underwent a carotid Doppler ultrasound scan. The results indicated that 75.71% of patients exhibited one-sided stenosis, while the remaining patients exhibited bilateral stenosis. Obesity, hypertension, and diabetes were specifically associated with the presence of a hetero-plaque, whereas stenosis type was associated with age, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.