Fatores de risco para acidente vascular cerebral em indígenas atendidos em ambulatório de especialidades

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke is an important cause of morbidity and mortality and is associated with clinical, behavioral, and social risk factors. Among Indigenous populations, changes in lifestyle and inequalities in access to healthcare services may influence exposure to cardiovascular risk, highlighting the need for evidence specifically focused on this population. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of stroke risk factors among Indigenous individuals treated at a specialty outpatient clinic. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted with a sample of 101 Indigenous adults of both sexes, aged 18 years or older. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical variables, as well as stroke risk classification, were evaluated. Individuals were considered at high risk for stroke when presenting two major risk factors (family history of the disease, previous medical diagnosis of hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, age >45 years, and smoking), together with at least one minor factor (male sex, alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity). Data analysis included descriptive statistics and Pearson’s chi-square test, considering a 95% significance level. Results: Among the 101 Indigenous participants, most had a spouse/partner (69.3%) and belonged to the Kaingang ethnic group (92%). In addition, 70.3% had educational attainment equal to or lower than elementary school, while 43.6% had paid employment. Family income between two and three minimum wages was observed in 60.2% of participants, 56.6% received social benefits, and 88.9% lived in rural areas. Regarding health conditions, 47.5% reported self-medication practices, 26% obesity, 6.1% acute myocardial infarction, 14.3% depression, and 38% anxiety. Furthermore, 26.6% reported a family history of acute myocardial infarction. The prevalence of high stroke risk was 40.6%, being more frequent among continuous medication users (56.9%, p=0.001) and obese individuals (65.4%, p=0.003). Conclusion: The studied Indigenous population presented a high prevalence of stroke risk factors and a considerable proportion of individuals classified as high risk for the condition. These findings reinforce the need for early preventive strategies guided by the strengthening of primary healthcare and culturally sensitive approaches within Indigenous health contexts.