Family History Affects Women's Stroke Risk

The risk of blocked-vessel stroke increases nearly twofold in young women with a history of stroke in any first-degree relative, while the risk of ruptured-vessel stroke increases by 2.4-fold in women with a family history of vascular disease, according to a new study published in the December 2004 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Researchers at the University of Washington (Seattle, USA) compared 109 young women diagnosed with stroke to 428 young women without a stroke who lived in the same area and were of similar age and background. The age range of the women was 18-44. Almost half of the women who had a stroke reported a family history of stroke. The effect of family history remained strong even after accounting for factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, physical activity, smoking and alcohol use, and family history of heart disease.

However, the researchers found that high blood pressure and smoking were good independent predictors of the risk of ruptured-vessel stroke; while diabetes, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, and body mass index were predictors of blocked-vessel strokes.

"A positive family history is thought to be an important risk factor for stroke, although this relationship is not clearly established,” noted Helen Kim, Ph.D., of the University of Washington. "The few studies that have examined this association have mainly focused on middle-aged to elderly populations and the results have been inconsistent.”




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