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Parental causes of death in stroke
Insights
Familial aggregation of stroke risk may be influenced more by shared environmental factors than genetics. This study found no significant increased stroke risk associated with cerebrovascular disease in parents.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Epidemiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Familial aggregation of stroke is frequently reported.
- The contribution of genetic versus environmental factors to this aggregation remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether familial aggregation of stroke is primarily due to genetic or environmental influences.
- To assess the association between parental history of cerebrovascular disease and stroke risk in offspring.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study design was employed.
- Stroke patients were matched with two controls based on sex, birth year, district, and paternal occupation.
- Parental death certificates were reviewed for causes of death, including cerebrovascular disease.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant increased risk of stroke was observed in individuals with a parental history of cerebrovascular disease (Odds Ratio for mother: 1.08, father: 0.91, either parent: 1.04).
- The confidence intervals for these odds ratios included 1, indicating no significant association.
Conclusions:
- Familial aggregation of stroke may be attributed to shared environmental factors, such as socioeconomic status, rather than solely genetic predisposition.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay of genetic and environmental determinants in stroke etiology.
Abstract:
There are many reports of familial aggregation in stroke. However, whether familial aggregation is largely due to genetic or environmental factors is not established. Consecutive subjects with stroke were matched with 2 controls per case of the same sex, born in the same year, district, and whose fathers had the same occupation. Presence on parental death certificates of cerebrovascular disease, other vascular disease, bronchial carcinoma, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and other causes of death was recorded. No significant difference in risk was found for cases having mother (odds ratio, OR 1.08, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.74-1.57), father (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.58-1.45) or either parent (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.74-1.46) with cerebrovascular disease. Familial aggregation may reflect socioeconomic and other environmental factors.