Obesity a major risk factor for stroke

Roman Bystrianyk · medicine forum Guru Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 454

http://www.healthsentinel.com/news.php?event=news_print_list_item&id=802

Carolyn Susman, "Obesity a major risk factor for stroke", Chicago
Tribune, May 8, 2005,
Link:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/nearwest/chi-0505080433may08,1,4129911.story?coll=chi-newslocalnearwest-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

In a study of more than 39,000 women, researchers confirm that
maintaining a healthy weight may be one of the most effective ways to
prevent a stroke.

The study was led by epidemiologist Dr. Tobias Kurth, of the Division
of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

"The news about aspirin's effects on stroke prevention has been widely
publicized, possibly because many people are looking for a `magic
bullet,' but aspirin alone is no single cure for stroke prevention,"
Kurth said. "What our study confirms is that preventing excessive
weight gain and obesity can be an even more powerful tool, in addition
to aspirin, to stop strokes, and, it is a safe remedy all women can
adopt."

In this study, researchers examined data reported by more than 39,000
middle-age women who answered questionnaires about body mass index
(BMI) and the incidence of stroke, along with other lifestyle habits
over a 10-year period. The analysis showed that BMI was a strong risk
factor for stroke.

"Our analysis revealed that obese women are two times more likely to
suffer from a stroke compared to healthy-weight women, and this did not
change based on whether or not women smoked or how often they
exercised," Kurth said.

The researchers believe obesity should be considered an established
primary risk factor for stroke.

Juhana Harju · medicine forum Guru Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 1056

Roman Bystrianyk wrote:
:: http://www.healthsentinel.com/news.php?event=news_print_list_item&id=802
::
:: Carolyn Susman, "Obesity a major risk factor for stroke", Chicago
:: Tribune, May 8, 2005,
:: Link:
::
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/nearwest/chi-0505080433may08,1,4129911.story?coll=chi-newslocalnearwest-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true
::
:: In a study of more than 39,000 women, researchers confirm that
:: maintaining a healthy weight may be one of the most effective ways to
:: prevent a stroke.
:: [...]

The abstract:

Circulation. 2005 Apr 19;111(15):1992-8. Related Articles, Links

Prospective study of body mass index and risk of stroke in apparently
healthy women.

Kurth T, Gaziano JM, Rexrode KM, Kase CS, Cook NR, Manson JE, Buring JE.

Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard
Medical School, 900 Commonwealth Ave E, Boston, MA 02215-1204, USA.
tkurth@rics.bwh.harvard.edu

BACKGROUND: Obesity is an escalating pandemic in the United States, and its
association with coronary heart disease is well understood. Several studies
have found positive associations between body mass index (BMI) and stroke in
men, but the association with stroke and its subtypes is less clear in
women. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a prospective cohort study among 39 053
women participating in the Women's Health Study. BMI was measured as
self-reported weight (in kilograms) divided by height (in meters) squared.
Incident stroke was self-reported and confirmed by medical record review. We
used the Cox proportional hazards model to evaluate the association between
BMI and stroke. After a mean follow-up of 10 years, a total of 432 strokes
(347 ischemic, 81 hemorrhagic, and 4 undefined) occurred. We found a
statistically significant trend for increased risk of total and ischemic
stroke across 7 BMI categories. With World Health Organization criteria,
women who were obese (BMI > or =30 kg/m2) had hazard ratios of 1.50 (95% CI
1.16 to 1.94) for total stroke, 1.72 (95% CI 1.30 to 2.2 Cool

for ischemic
stroke, and 0.82 (95% CI 0.43 to 1.5 Cool

for hemorrhagic stroke compared with
women with BMI <25 kg/m2. Additional control for history of hypertension,
diabetes, and elevated cholesterol substantially attenuated the hazard
ratios for total and ischemic stroke. There was no effect modification for
age, exercise, or smoking. CONCLUSIONS: In this large prospective cohort
study among women, BMI was a strong risk factor for total and ischemic
stroke but not for hemorrhagic stroke. The association was highly mediated
by hypertension, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol. PMID: 15837954

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15837954

--
Juhana

Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD · medicine forum Guru Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 8540

Roman Bystrianyk wrote:

Jeff · medicine forum Guru Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 1313

"Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <andrew@heartmdphd.com> wrote in message
news:4286562B.61944A14@heartmdphd.com...

LadyLollipop · medicine forum Guru Joined: 01 May 2005 Posts: 874

"Jeff" <kidsdoc2000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:XWthe.1192$M36.794@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net...

Rich · medicine forum Guru Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 585

"LadyLollipop" <LadyLollipop@insightbb.com> wrote in message
news:YWvhe.81747$c24.23361@attbi_s72...

LadyLollipop · medicine forum Guru Joined: 01 May 2005 Posts: 874

"Rich" <joshew@hawaii.rr.com> wrote in message
news:Gqwhe.15001$ya2.2160@tornado.socal.rr.com...

Rich · medicine forum Guru Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 585

"LadyLollipop" <LadyLollipop@insightbb.com> wrote in message
news:o8xhe.81679$WI3.76448@attbi_s71...

LadyLollipop · medicine forum Guru Joined: 01 May 2005 Posts: 874

"Rich" <joshew@hawaii.rr.com> wrote in message
news:fixhe.15211$ya2.11109@tornado.socal.rr.com...

Rich · medicine forum Guru Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 585

"LadyLollipop" <LadyLollipop@insightbb.com> wrote in message
news:mDzhe.81862$WI3.466@attbi_s71...

Google