Head Injury Linked to Increase in Incident Ischemic Stroke
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Sept. 15, 2023 -- Head injury is associated with an increased risk for incident ischemic stroke, with evidence of a dose-response association with the number of head injuries, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Neurological Association, held from Sept. 9 to 12 in Philadelphia.
Holly Elser, M.D., Ph.D., from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and colleagues examined the association between prior head injury and incident ischemic stroke among 11,833 individuals from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study who had no history of head injury, stroke, or cardiovascular disease at baseline.
During study follow-up, head injuries occurred in 1,973 participants (16.7 percent) and were mainly classified as mild. The researchers observed an association for head injury with an increased risk for subsequent ischemic stroke in adjusted Cox models (hazard ratio, 1.42). Accounting for the competing risk for mortality, the association was slightly stronger but consistent (hazard ratio, 1.88). A dose-response association for the risk for stroke was seen in association with the number of head injuries in a secondary analysis (hazard ratios, 1.27 and 2.04 for one and two or more, respectively, versus none); no association was seen for severity.
"The findings underscore the importance of public health interventions to reduce the risk of head injury as well as measures aimed at stroke prevention among individuals with a prior head injury," Elser said in a statement.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted September 2023
Read this next
Delay in Hospital Arrival After Stroke Linked to Social Vulnerability
THURSDAY, May 30, 2024 -- Areas with a high incidence of delay in hospital arrival after ischemic stroke are characterized by increased social vulnerability, according to a study...
Infarct Size Does Not Affect Treatment Effect of Early Versus Late DOAC
TUESDAY, May 28, 2024 -- For individuals with minor, moderate, or major stroke, the treatment effect of early versus late direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) initiation does not...
Extreme Temperatures Linked to Increased Risk for Stroke Death
FRIDAY, May 24, 2024 -- Extreme cold and hot temperatures are associated with an increased risk for death from ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, according to a study published...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.