Quality and life style as risk factors in acute cerebrovascular disease

INTRODUCTION: In some series of patients with acute cerebral vascular disease (CVD) it has been seen that, prior to the episode of CVD, the patients already had a poorer quality of life than other people of their age. The object of this study is to evaluate their previous life style and quality of life as risk factors (RF) in acute CVD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A case-control study was done of a total of 151 patients admitted to two hospitals with acute CVD and 151 persons, who were not hospitalized and acted as the control group, paired (one to one) for age, sex and hospital. In both groups data were collected regarding basic general health, previous quality of life (Nottingham Health Profile-NHP-, life style and self-perception of social support. The relative risks were estimated by calculating the odds ratios and conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Regular moderate physical exercise acts as a protective factor with an OR of 0.32 (IC 95%: 0.14-0.76). Consumption of tobacco and alcohol increased the risk of CVD but did not reach statistical significance. No relationship was found between perceived social support and risk of CVD. Physical mobility, evaluated using the NHP showed a statistically significant negative association with acute CVD (OR: 0.32; IC 95%: 0.14-0.71). CONCLUSIONS: Our results seem to suggest that the previous overall quality of life cannot be considered a RF in acute CVD, except for physical mobility as evaluated on the NHP. Reduction of this constitutes a RF and moderate physical exercise behaves as a protective factor.