Long-Term Risk Factors for Stroke

Abstract

Background and Purpose-To estimate the predictive value of risk factors for stroke measured in midlife over follow-up extending through 28 years. Methods-A cohort of 7457 men 47 to 55 years of age and free of stroke at baseline year 1970 were examined. Risk of stroke was analyzed for the entire period and for 0 to 15, 16 to 21, and 22 to 28 years of follow-up using age-adjusted and multiple Cox regression analyses. Results-Age, diabetes, and high blood pressure were independently associated with increased risk of stroke for the entire 28 years and for each of the periods. Previous transient ischemic attacks, atrial fibrillation, history of chest pain, smoking, and psychological stress were independently related to stroke for the entire follow-up period and also during the first 1 or 2 successive periods. Family history of stroke or of coronary disease carried no independent prognostic information, nor did serum cholesterol. Elevated body mass index predicted stroke during the later part of the follow-up and so did (almost) low physical activity during leisure time, together with antihypertensive medication at baseline. Conclusions-High blood pressure and diabetes retain their importance as stroke risk factors also over an extended follow-up into old age. A family history of cardiovascular disease was not significantly related to outcome. Transient ischemic attacks, atrial fibrillation, stress, smoking, and a history of chest pain were associated with outcome only for the first or the first 2 periods. High body mass index and antihypertensive medication at baseline emerged as risk factors in the second and third decades.

Serum Uric Acid Levels in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Study of 100 Patients

“…Per Harmesen et al [15] also found that obesity is a risk factor for stroke (OR = 2.23, 95% C.I. = 1.83 -2.72).…”

Constructing the Prediction Model for the Risk of Stroke in a Chinese Population

“…Cross-sectional studies conducted in Spanish hypertensive 7 In addition, based on 7457 men aged 47 to 55 years in Sweden with Ͼ20 years follow-up, age, diabetes, blood pressure, and history of transient ischemic stroke, atrial fibrillation, and smoking were associated with a stroke event. 38 Asian reports on a stroke prediction model are also available. First, a Japanese prediction model including all stroke and coronary events for 19 years on 4098 men and 5255 women, aged 50 years, for a 19-year follow-up period showed age, smoking, systolic blood pressure, and serum cholesterol and glucose were included in the prediction model.…”

“…These covariates did not increase significantly the likelihood ratio test value in the multivariate Cox model. Some lifestyle and socioeconomic factors such as physical activity, 12 household income, 10 and depression 38,42 Figure 2. Nomogram for the risk of stroke incidence in the study participants (nϭ3513).…”

Stroke Incidence and Mortality Rates 1987 to 2006 Related to Secular Trends of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Gothenburg, Sweden

“…We have previously found that diabetes is a strong risk factor for stroke. 22 It has also been shown that high serum triglycerides is a risk factor for stroke in both sexes, [27][28][29] and high BMI has been shown to be a risk factor in men 30 and in women. [31][32][33][34] Fibrinogen levels 35 (not assessed during all of the study period) might also have contributed to the unchanged stroke incidence.…”