Abstract
A study on severity of cerebro-vascular accident patients in Korea was conduced in order to determine the risk factors affecting the severity of stroke patients. This study was performed by interviewing a total of 477 hospitalized and ambulatory patient of CVA in Seoul, Taejon, and Taegu and Pusan areas from April 1, 1998 through June 30, 1998. The results are as follows; 1. Two hundred and sixty seven $(56\%)$ at Four hundred and seventy seven subjects were manes, md two hundred and ten $(44\%)$ were females. $28.3\%$ of the subjects' ages were 50's and $27.3\%$ were 60's and $18.5\%$ were 70's. $22.6\%$ of the subjects' occupations were home makers, $17.8\%$ were farming. $66.4\%$ of the subjects spent their childhood in urban areas and $33.1\%$in rural areas. $41.7\%$ of the subjects became violin of CVA in Spring, $35.0\%$ in Winter. 2. On physical and mental conditions of the subjects at the occurrence of CVA, $28.7\%$ of the subjects were engaged in physical activities. $22.6\%$ were in a rest stale $19.5\%$ were in sleeping and $18.9\%$ were mentally shocked. $79.4\%$ of the male subjects and $14.8\%$ of female subjects smoked cigarettes. $82\%$ of male subjects drank coffee. $81.1\%$ of the subjects did not exercise regularly. $45.9\%$ of the subjects had the systolic blood pressures in the range of 160 to 199 mmHg and $5.6\%$ of the subjects had hypertension before the occurrence of stroke and $11.7\%$ had diabetes. 3. Of the types of strokes, cerebral hemorrhage was the highest $(49.1\%)$. cerebral infarction was the second $(41.1\%)$. Severe strokes were found in cerebral hemorrhage cases $(52.0\%)$ and cerebral infarction cases $(40.1\%).\;50.9\%$. of the male subjects were moderate cases, $50.9\%$ were severe cases. In females, moderate cases were $72.4\%$, severe cases $15.2\%$. $37.5\%$ of the subjects who had preceding diseases were severe cases, and $15.6\%$ of the subjects without preceding diseases were severe cases. $50.7\%$ of the subjects whose family members had strokes had severe strokes. $34\%$ of the subjects sleeping less than 6 hours a day, $42.4\%$ of the subjects with irregular eating habits, $33.3\%$ of the subjects who liked meat, and $42.3\%$ of the subjects who liked salty foods had severe strokes. $35.9\%$ of the subjects with hot temper, $27.6\%$ of the subjects with moderate temper and $14.5\%$ of subjects with mild temper were severe cases. 4. The correlation coefficient between obesity and blood pressure was 0.094.