Obesity was not independently associated with an increased risk of stroke within 15 years among 50-year-olds, whereas hypertension (HR 1.98; 95% CI 1.75-2.24) significantly increased stroke risk.
Cohort (n=66,048)
Does obesity increase the risk of stroke within 15 years among 50-year-olds?
Obesity is not independently associated with 15-year stroke risk in 50-year-olds, but it indirectly increases risk by driving higher prevalences of hypertension and diabetes.
Abstract Background and aims The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, yet among metabolically healthy individuals the independent contribution of obesity to stroke risk is disputed. This study aimed to determine the stroke risk attributable to obesity among 50-year-olds. Methods This retrospective register study was conducted using data from the Northern Sweden Health and Disease Study, the Swedish stroke register, and the National Patient Register. Individuals who participated in health examinations between 1985-2022 and aged 48-52 years old were included, while patients lacking data on body mass index were excluded. Follow-up time was 15 years. Descriptive analyses and Cox regression analyses of the relationships between comorbidities and stroke risk were performed using SPSS. Results 66,048 patients were included, of whom 13537 (20.6%) had hypertension, 11646 (17.6%) were obese, and 1251 (1.9%) suffered a stroke within 15 years. Hypertension and diabetes were less prevalent in patients with normal weight (respectively 12.0% and 0.6%) compared to obesity (respectively 37.4% and 4.1%). Hypertension (HR 1.98; 95% CI 1.75-2.24), male sex (HR 1.89; 95% CI 1.67-2.13), smoking (HR 1.85; 95% CI 1.62-2.11) and diabetes (HR 1.67; 95% CI 1.31-2.14) were associated with an increased stroke risk, while obesity and total cholesterol levels were not. Conclusions While obesity was not independently associated with an increased risk of stroke within 15 years among 50-year-olds, it was associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes, which in turn were associated with an increased risk of stroke. Hence, hypertension and diabetes, together with smoking cessation, represent focus points for stroke preventive interventions. Conflict of interest David Darehed: nothing to disclose. Sonja Palm: nothing to disclose. Marie Eriksson: nothing to disclose. Eva-Lotta Glader: nothing to disclose.
Palm et al. (Fri,) conducted a cohort in Stroke (n=66,048). Obesity vs. Normal weight was evaluated on Stroke. Obesity was not independently associated with an increased risk of stroke within 15 years among 50-year-olds, whereas hypertension (HR 1.98; 95% CI 1.75-2.24) significantly increased stroke risk.
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