Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39747952›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Modifiable Risk Factors for Stroke in Syria: A Nationwide Multi-centre Case-Control Study.

Mhd Mustafa Albitar, Subhia Maya, Khaled Kalalib Al Ashabia, Ghassan Hamzeh, Ameer Kakaje

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Mhd Mustafa Albitar *Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.
Subhia Maya *Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.
Khaled Kalalib Al Ashabia *Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.
Ghassan HamzehHead of the Neurology Department, Al Assad University Hospital, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.
Ameer KakajeFaculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic. ameer.kakaje@hotmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Stroke is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, including in Syria, and the third-leading cause of death and disability combined. With approximately 90% of strokes worldwide linked to modifiable risk factors, identifying and quantifying these factors within a specific population is essential for effective prevention. This is the first study to investigate primary risk factors for stroke in Syria. This study included the six primary stroke centres across four major cities in Syria. Data was collected through case files and a questionnaire answered by the cases or their proxies through personal interviews, as well as selected controls. A total of 411 cases were recruited, comprising 363 ischemic strokes (IS) and 48 haemorrhagic strokes, and with a matched ratio of 1:1 for age and sex. IS was significantly associated with multiple chronic conditions including atrial fibrillation AF [AOR 5.04 (2.64-9.62)], high body mass index (overweight [AOR 2.09 (1.28-3.40)], obesity [AOR 4.17 (2.32-7.50)]), hypercholesterolemia [AOR 2.10 (1.34-3.28], hypertension HTN [AOR 1.83 (1.23-2.73)], and diabetes mellitus DM [AOR 1.79 (1.18-2.71)]. Moreover, several lifestyle risk factors contributed to IS: Alcohol consumption [AOR 4.80 (1.72-13.41)], a diet lacking fruits and vegetables [AOR 2.04 (1.28-3.23)], and low physical activity PA [AOR 1.75 (1.01-2.86)]. Notably, over 40% of the population exhibited medication nonadherence. IS showed no significant association with cigarette smoking, heart failure (HF), ischemic heart disease (IHD), or a family history of stroke (p > 0.05). In contrast, haemorrhagic stroke was linked to higher BMI, HTN, DM, and AF (p < 0.05), but not to hypercholesterolemia, cigarette smoking, IHD, or HF (p > 0.05). This first nationwide multicentre case-controlled study in Syria identified critical modifiable risk factors for stroke, including hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and obesity, with high rates of medication non-adherence, especially among hypertensive patients, complicating stroke risk. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted health interventions promoting lifestyle modifications, medication adherence, and public health policies tailored to Syria's current resource-limited context to reduce the stroke burden and improve population health.

Indexed as

StrokeAdultAgedAtrial FibrillationCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansHypertensionIschemic StrokeLife StyleMaleMiddle AgedObesityRisk FactorsSyriaHypertensionMiddle EastModifiable risk factorsPublic healthStrokeSyria

Identifiers

PMID39747952
PMCPMC11695822

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