This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire PubMed PubMed Citation

Risk Factors for New Atherothrombotic Brain Infarction in Older Hispanic Men and Women

^a Hebrew Hospital Home, Bronx, New York
^b Department of Geriatrics and Adult Development, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York
^c Division of Clinical Epidemiology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Texas

Wilbert S. Aronow, CMD, Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, 23 Pebble Way, New Rochelle, NY 10804 E-mail: WSAronow{at}aol.com.

Decision Editor: John E. Morley, MB, BCh

Background. We report the prevalence and incidence of atherothrombotic brain infarction (ABI) in older Hispanic men and women in a long-term health care facility.

Methods. The prevalence and incidence of ABI and the association of risk factors with new ABI were investigated in 201 Hispanic men, mean age 79 ± 8 years, and in 302 Hispanic women, mean age 80 ± 9 years, in a long-term health care facility. Mean follow-up was 42 ± 20 months in men and 47 ± 26 months in women.

Results. The prevalence of prior ABI was 33% in Hispanic men and 30% in Hispanic women. The incidence of new ABI was 24% in Hispanic men and 23% in Hispanic women. Significant independent risk factors for new ABI were age (risk ratio = 1.09 in men and 1.08 in women for each increase of 1 year of age), current cigarette smoking (risk ratio = 2.8 in men and 2.7 in women), hypertension (risk ratio = 2.8 in men), diabetes mellitus (risk ratio = 3.5 in men and 5.0 in women), prior ABI (risk ratio = 5.6 in men and 5.5 in women), serum total cholesterol (risk ratio = 1.03 in men and 1.01 in women for each 1 mg/dl increase), and serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (risk ratio = 1.06 in men and 1.06 in women for each 1 mg/dl decrease).

Conclusions. Significant independent risk factors for new ABI were age, current cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, prior ABI, serum total cholesterol, and serum HDL cholesterol (inverse association) in older Hispanic men and women and hypertension in older Hispanic men.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. E. Morley, H. M. Perry III, and D. K. Miller Editorial: Something About Frailty J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., November 1, 2002; 57(11): M698 - 704. [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. S. Aronow Guest Editorial: What Is the Appropriate Treatment of Hypertension in Elders? J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., August 1, 2002; 57(8): M483 - 486. [Full Text] [PDF]