The objective of this study was to evaluate how prestroke risk factors, neurological symptoms and the level of disability shortly after stroke are associated with post stroke mortality during 7 years after stroke for persons that have been treated in the stoke unit.
Methods: The data of 231 patients who were treated in the Stroke unit at the Riga East University Hospital between February 1 and July 20, 2009 were included in the study. Prestroke risk factors (type of stroke, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, smoking, alcohol abuse, obesity, recurrent stroke, age, gender), neurological symptoms (motor deficit, sensory disturbance, aphasia, post-stroke urinary incontinence (PSUI), mental status) and limitations of activities (feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, toilet use, transfers, mobility, stairs) early after stroke were used as independent variables in the stepwise Cox proportional hazard analysis to analyse the mortality during 7 years following stroke. 
Results: 145 patients had died during the study period. The final model for each group of factors included only one of the factors used for the analysis. Patients who had alcohol abuse were 40% more prone to die earlier. The hazard for those with PSUI is 1.72 times higher than those without PSUI. The independence in grooming showed for 39% lower chance to die earlier. 
Conclusion: Alcohol abuse as a prestroke risk factor, post stroke urinary incontinence as a neurological symptom and dependence in grooming as a factor of disability were associated with earlier mortality during seven years after stroke.

EVALUATION OF FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MORTALITY DURING 7 YEARS AFTER STROKE