Wednesday, March 18, 2009
stroke, hersen infarct
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Summary and Comment
Health-Related Behaviors and Stroke Risk
Stroke prevention involves not only treating risk factors, but also encouraging patients to embrace health-related behaviors.
Health-enhancing behaviors, such as exercising regularly and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, can reduce risk for stroke. In this prospective, population-based study, U.K. investigators assessed the potential combined effect of four behaviors — not smoking, regular physical activity, moderate alcohol intake (1–14 drinks weekly), and high fruit and vegetable intake (based on high plasma vitamin C levels) — on risk for stroke in 20,000 men and women (age range, 40–79) without histories of stroke or myocardial infarction.
During an average follow-up of 11.5 years, 599 strokes occurred; 168 were fatal. Compared with people who engaged in all four health-related behaviors (and adjusted for numerous demographic and clinical variables), the relative risk for stroke was nonsignificantly higher for people who engaged in three behaviors (RR, 1.2) and significantly higher for those who engaged in two behaviors (RR, 1.6), one behavior (RR, 2.2), and none of the behaviors (RR, 2.3). Results were similar when stratified by age, sex, BMI, and social class.
Comment: Based on these results, the authors appropriately conclude that a combination of "relatively modest and achievable" health-related behaviors can substantially reduce risk for stroke in adults. Indeed, the study’s take-home message is that stroke prevention involves not only treating risk factors, but also encouraging patients to embrace health-related behaviors.
— Bruce Soloway, MD
Published in Journal Watch General Medicine March 17, 2009
Citation(s):
Myint PK et al. Combined effect of health behaviours and risk of first ever stroke in 20 040 men and women over 11 years’ follow-up in Norfolk cohort of European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC Norfolk): Prospective population study. BMJ 2009 Feb 19; 338:b349. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b349)
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Medline abstract (Free)
Summary and Comment
Health-Related Behaviors and Stroke Risk
Stroke prevention involves not only treating risk factors, but also encouraging patients to embrace health-related behaviors.
Health-enhancing behaviors, such as exercising regularly and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, can reduce risk for stroke. In this prospective, population-based study, U.K. investigators assessed the potential combined effect of four behaviors — not smoking, regular physical activity, moderate alcohol intake (1–14 drinks weekly), and high fruit and vegetable intake (based on high plasma vitamin C levels) — on risk for stroke in 20,000 men and women (age range, 40–79) without histories of stroke or myocardial infarction.
During an average follow-up of 11.5 years, 599 strokes occurred; 168 were fatal. Compared with people who engaged in all four health-related behaviors (and adjusted for numerous demographic and clinical variables), the relative risk for stroke was nonsignificantly higher for people who engaged in three behaviors (RR, 1.2) and significantly higher for those who engaged in two behaviors (RR, 1.6), one behavior (RR, 2.2), and none of the behaviors (RR, 2.3). Results were similar when stratified by age, sex, BMI, and social class.
Comment: Based on these results, the authors appropriately conclude that a combination of "relatively modest and achievable" health-related behaviors can substantially reduce risk for stroke in adults. Indeed, the study’s take-home message is that stroke prevention involves not only treating risk factors, but also encouraging patients to embrace health-related behaviors.
— Bruce Soloway, MD
Published in Journal Watch General Medicine March 17, 2009
Citation(s):
Myint PK et al. Combined effect of health behaviours and risk of first ever stroke in 20 040 men and women over 11 years’ follow-up in Norfolk cohort of European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC Norfolk): Prospective population study. BMJ 2009 Feb 19; 338:b349. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b349)
Original article (Subscription may be required)
Medline abstract (Free)
# posted by roodbont @ 2:57 AM 
