Objective The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and stroke incidence and mortality remains controversial, particularly in Asian populations. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study in a nationally representative sample of 169,871 Chinese men and women age 40 years or older. Data on body weight was obtained at baseline examination in 1991 using a standard protocol. Follow-up evaluation was conducted in 1999 to 2000, with a response rate of 93.4%. Results After excluding those participants with missing body weight or height values, 154,736 adults were included in the analysis. During a mean follow-up of 8.3 years, 7,489 strokes occurred (3,924 fatal). After adjustment for age, gender, physical inactivity, urbanization, geographic variation, cigarette smoking, diabetes, and education, compared with participants of normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9), relative hazard (95% confidence interval) of incident stroke was 0.86 (0.80–0.93) for participants who were underweight (BMI < 18.5), 1.43 (1.36–1.52) for those who were overweight (BMI 25–29.9), and 1.72 (1.55–1.91) for those who were obese (BMI ≥ 30). The corresponding relative hazards were 0.76 (0.66–0.86), 1.60 (1.48–1.72), and 1.89 (1.66–2.16) for ischemic stroke and 1.00 (0.89–1.13), 1.18 (1.06–1.31), and 1.54 (1.27–1.87) for hemorrhagic stroke. For stroke mortality, the corresponding relative hazards were 0.94 (0.86–1.03), 1.15 (1.05–1.25), and 1.47 (1.26–1.72). Linear trends were significant for all outcomes (p < 0.0001). Interpretation These results suggest that elevated BMI increases the risk of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke incidence, and stroke mortality in Chinese adults.

Prehypertension was related to an increased risk of CVD. Treatment of prehypertension among patients with a history of CVD or diabetes was as beneficial as treatment of stage 1 hypertensive patients without a history of CVD or diabetes.

Background and Purpose-We studied the relationship between cigarette smoking and stroke incidence and mortality in the Chinese adult population. Methods-We conducted a prospective cohort study in a nationally representative sample of 169 871 Chinese men and women aged 40 years and older. Data on cigarette smoking and other covariables were collected at a baseline examination in 1991 using a standard protocol. Follow-up evaluation was conducted in 1999 to 2000, with a response rate of 93.4%. Results-During an average of 8.3 years follow-up, a total of 6780 stroke events (3979 fatal strokes) were observed. The multivariate-adjusted relative risks (95% confidence interval) of stroke incidence and mortality associated with present cigarette smoking were 1.28 (1.19 to 1.37) and 1.13 (1.03 to 1.25) in men and 1.25 (1.13 to 1.37) and 1.19 (1.04 to 1.36) in women, respectively. The corresponding population attributable risks were 14.2% and 7.1% in men and 3.1% and 2.4% in women. Compared to never-smokers, the multivariate-adjusted relative risks of stroke incidence (95% confidence interval) were 1.21 (1.12 to 1.31), 1.21 (1.11 to 1.32), and 1.36 (1.25 to 1.47) for those who smoked 1 to 9, 10 to 19, and Ն20 cigarettes per day; and 1.18 (1.09 to 1.28), 1.25 (1.15 to 1.35), and 1.34 (1.24 to 1.44) for those who smoked 1 to 11, 12 to 26, and Ͼ26 pack-years, respectively (both PϽ0.0001 for linear trends). Conclusions-Our study identified a positive and dose-response relationship between cigarette smoking and risk of stroke.Smoking prevention and cessation programs should be an important strategy for reducing the burden of stroke in