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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Apr 28.
Published in final edited form as: Circulation. 2012 Dec 12;127(1):e6–e245. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0b013e31828124ad

Table 14-2.

Modifiable Stroke Risk Factors

Factor Prevalence, % PAR, %* RR
Cigarette smoking
 Overall 19.8 12–14 1.9
  Men 22.3
  Women 17.4
Hypertension 8
 Ages 20–34 y
  Men 13.4 99
  Women 6.2 98
 Ages 35–44 y
  Men 23.2 99
  Women 16.5 106
 Ages 45–54 y
  Men 36.2 100
  Women 35.9 103
 Ages 55–64 y
  Men 53.7 100
  Women 55.8 102
 Ages 65–74 y
  Men 64.7 100
  Women 69.6 101
 Ages ≥75 y
  Men 64.1 100
  Women 76.4 101
Diabetes 7.3 5–27 1.8–6.0
High total cholesterol Data calculated for highest quintile (20%) vs lowest quintile 9.1 (5.7–13.8) 1.5 (95% CI, 1.3–1.8)
Continuous risk for ischemic stroke 1.25 per 1-mmol/L (38.7 mg/dL) increase
Low HDL cholesterol
 <40 mg/dL
  Men 35
  Women 15
Data calculated for highest quintile (20%) vs lowest quintile 23.7 0.4
 <35 mg/dL 26 20.6 (10.1–30.7) 2.00 (95% CI, 1.43–2.70)
Continuous risk for ischemic stroke ≈0.5–0.6 for each 1-mmol/L increase
AF (nonvalvular)
 Overall age, y
  50–59 0.5 1.5 4.0
  60–69 1.8 2.8 2.6
  70–79 4.8 9.9 3.3
  80–89 8.8 23.5 4.5
Asymptomatic carotid stenosis 2–8 2–7§ 2.0
Sickle cell disease 0.25 (of blacks) 200–400||
Postmenopausal hormone therapy 25 (Women 50–74 y of age) 9 1.4
Oral contraceptive use 13 (women 25–44 y) 9.4 2.3
Dietary factors
 Na intake >2300 mg 75–90 Unknown Unknown
 K intake <4700 mg 90–99 Unknown Unknown
Physical inactivity 25 30 2.7
Obesity 1.39 Stroke death per increase of 5 kg/m2
  Men 33.3
  Women 35.3
 CHD
  Men 8.4 5.8 1.73 (1.68–1.78)
  Women 5.6 3.9 1.55 (1.17–2.07)
 Heart failure
  Men 2.6 1.4
  Women 2.1 1.1
Peripheral arterial disease 4.9 3.0

PAR indicates population attributable risk; RR, relative risk; CI, confidence interval; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; AF, atrial fibrillation; and CHD, coronary heart disease.

*

PAR is the proportion of ischemic stroke in the population that can be attributed to a particular risk factor (see Goldstein et al62 for formula).

PAR is for stroke deaths, not ischemic stroke incidence.

PAR percent=100×{[prevalence (RR−1)/prevalence (RR−1) +1]}.

§

Calculated on the basis of referenced data provided in the table or text.

||

Relative to stroke risk in children without sickle cell disease.

Calculated on the basis of point estimates of referenced data provided in the table. For peripheral arterial disease, calculation was based on average RR for men and women.

Adapted from Goldstein et al.62