UM Researchers: These Factors May Highly Increase The Risk Of Stroke

Researchers with the University of Miami have found that, despite numerous prevention efforts, there remains a significant increase in the likeliness of suffering from a stroke in those with high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and other risk factors. 

A study released Wednesday in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology looked at 922,451 adult stroke hospitalizations between 2004 and 2014. 

Of those, 93 percent had one or more risk factors, which increased from 88 percent in 2004.

• The prevalence of high cholesterol more than doubled, from 29 to 59 percent
• The prevalence of diabetes increased by 22 percent, from 31 to 38 percent. 
• The prevalence of high blood pressure increased by 15 percent, from 31 to 38 percent 
• The prevalence of drug abuse doubled, from 1.4 to 2.8 percent

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Neurology Chair and American Academy of Neurology President Dr. Ralph Sacco has more on the research:

“An estimated 80 percent of all first strokes are due to risk factors that can be changed, such as high blood pressure... Yet we saw a widespread increase in the number of stroke patients with one or more risk factors,” said study author Fadar Oliver Otite, MD, ScM, of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. 

“These alarming findings support the call for further action to develop more effective methods to prevent and control these risk factors to reduce stroke risk.”

Researchers found that: 

• High blood pressure in stroke hospitalizations increased annually by 1 percent
• Diabetes increased by 2 percent 
• High cholesterol increased by 7 percent
• Smoking increased by 5 percent
• Drug abuse increased by 7 percent Additionally, 
• Kidney failure increased annually by 13 percent
• Plaque buildup in the carotid artery increased by 6 percent 
• Coronary artery disease increased by 1 percent

The proportion of people with multiple risk factors also increased over time.

“While we have made great strides in reducing the proportion of people who die from stroke, we still have progress to make on preventing stroke and better controlling these risk factors,” said Otite.

For more information about strokes and the risks factors associated, click here.