<b>FREQUENCY OF ISCHEMIC STROKE AND ITS ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN PATIENTS PRESENTED FOR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY BRAIN IN HAYATABAD MEDICAL COMPLEX (HMC) PESHAWAR</b>

Background: Stroke is the most frequent serving form of cerebrovascular disease as it is ranked 2nd globally. when the blood supply to the brain is insufficient or a blood vessel is ruptured. there are 2 main classifications of stoke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic. different modalities are used for the diagnosis of stroke, but the gold standard is still computed tomography(CT). Aims and objectives: to determine the frequency of ischemic stroke in patients landed for CT scan brain in Hayatabad Medical Complex hospital Peshawar and to identify the common risk factors associated with ischemic stroke in patients visit for CT scan brain in Hayatabad Medical Complex hospital Peshawar. Methods: the study took place in Hayatabad medical complex Peshawar in duration of 6 months with a cross-sectional study through Convenience sampling with the sample size of 323. Result: A total of 39.3% patients where reported for stroke out of 323, The age range of 41 to 60 was the most impacted. The most prevalent risk factor was hypertension (44%), which was followed by diabetes mellitus (26.6%) and high cholesterol (18.9%). In 4.6% of cases, smoking was reported. Discussion: The results support international research and emphasize the importance of hypertension as the primary risk factor for ischemic stroke. Significant contributions were also made by diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, highlighting the significance of metabolic health in preventing stroke. Because of lifestyle factors and a higher prevalence of comorbid diseases, males were more likely to be affected than females. The burden of stroke among middle-aged persons is indicated by the age group most afflicted, which is 41–60 years old. This highlights the importance of early detection and intervention. Analyses of other studies showed comparable patterns. Conclusion: This study highlights how diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension contribute to the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. The results highlight the significance of public health initiatives and early screening in reducing the incidence of stroke, particularly in middle-aged individuals.