Lifestyle factors and risk of stroke in Seoul, south Korea

doi:10.1016/S1052-3057(98)80125-0

Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases

Volume 7, Issue 6, November–December 1998, Pages 414-420

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1052-3057(98)80125-0 Get rights and content

Background and purpose: The importance of stroke risk factors, especially lifestyle associated ones, may differ among different ethnic groups. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate the risk factors for stroke in Seoul, Korea. Subjects and Methods: Three-hundred four stroke patients and 249 age-matched controls were studied. Patients were divided into those with cerebral infarction (CI) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Using a structured interview, we assessed risk factors for stroke including lifestyle-associated factors: hypertension (HT); diabetes mellitus (DM); cigarette smoking; alcohol drinking; sodium intake; salt taste preference; physical activity and exercise; consumption of vegetables, fat, fish and fruits; body mass index; total body fat; and skinfold thickness of triceps, subscapular, and abdomen. The results were compared between patients and controls, and between CI and ICH. Results: There were 232 CI and 72 ICH. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed the following independent risk factors; for CI in men, HT, DM, high sodium intake, low intake of vegetables, and excessive abdominal skinfold thickness; for ICH in men, HT, heavy alcohol drinking, high sodium intake, excessive abdominal skinfold thickness, and low fat consumption; for CI in women, excessive abdominal skinfold thickness, and low fat consumption; for CI in women, HT, high sodium intake, excessive abdominal skinfold thickness, decreased triceps skinfold thickness, and lack of recent physical exercise. On subgroup comparison, DM was found to be a discriminant risk factor favoring CI (v ICH) in women. Conclusion: Our results showed that in Seoul, Korea, HT is the strongest risk factor for CI and ICH, and high sodium intake, lack of exercise, and central body fat deposition are relatively important factors related to stroke, whereas factors such as cigarette smoking, hypercholesterolemia, and body mass index are not. Low consumption of fat and heavy alcohol drinking appear to be related to the occurrence of ICH. Risk factors for stroke may differ among different ethnic groups and guidelines for stroke prevention should be based on a correct understanding of them.

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¹: Supported by Research Funds from Hallym Academy of Sciences, Choon-Chun, South Korea.

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Lifestyle factors and risk of stroke in Seoul, south Korea1

J Atheroscler Res

J Neurol Sci

Am J Med

Am J Clin Nutr

Primary prevention of stroke

N Engl J Med

The paradox of high risk of stroke in populations with low risk of coronary heart disease

Am J Epdidemiol

Does diet influence stroke incidence?

N Z Med J

Annual report of the cause of death statistics

Epidemiology of cerebrovascular disease in Korea

J Korean Med Sci

Modern nutrition in Health and Disease

Some health benefits of physical activity: The Framingham study

Arch Intern Med

Lifestyle-associated risk factors for acute brain infarction among persons of working age

Stroke

Physical activity in older middle-aged men and reduced risk of stroke: the Honolulu Heart Program

Am J Epidemiol

Cigarette smoking as a risk factor for stroke: The Framingham study

JAMA

Meta-analysis of relation between cigarette smoking and stroke

BMJ

Risk factors for stroke in middle aged British men

BMJ

Stroke subtypes and hypertension. Primary hemorrhage vs infarction, large vs small artery disease

Arch Neurol

Risk factors of stroke incidence and mortality. A 12-year follow-up of the Oslo Study

Stroke

A population based model of risk factors for ischemic stroke: Rochester, Minnesota

Neurology

Lifestyle factors and risk of cerebral infarction

Stroke

Multivariate prediction of the first major cerebrovascular event in an Italian population sample of middle-aged men followed up for 25 years

Stroke

A prospective study of cerebrovascular disease in Japanese rural communities, Akabane and Asahi. Part 1: Evaluation of risk factors in the occurrence of cerebral hemorrhage and thrombosis

Stroke

Risk factors for cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction in a Japanese rural community

Stroke

Trends for coronary heart disease and stroke and their risk factors in Japan

Circulation

Is family history an independent risk factor for stroke?

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry

Patterns of cerebrovascular disease in Japan and other population groups in Hawaii: An angiographic study

Stroke

Risk factors for spontaneous cerebral hematomas: Case control study

Stroke

Alcohol and hemorrhagic stroke: The Honolulu Heart Program

JAMA