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Cholesterol predicts stroke mortality in the Women's Pooling Project
Richard B Horenstein1, Dean E Smith, Lori Mosca
1Department of Medicine, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, USA.
Stroke
|July 10, 2002
Summary
High cholesterol is a significant risk factor for nonhemorrhagic stroke death in women under 55, particularly in Black women. This highlights cholesterol
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular epidemiology
- Public health
- Women's health
Background:
- Cholesterol is an emerging stroke risk factor.
- Limited data exist on cholesterol and stroke mortality in women and ethnic minorities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between cholesterol levels and stroke mortality in women.
- To examine differences by race and age.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 24,343 women from 8 US prospective cohort studies (Women's Pooling Project).
- Evaluation of stroke death risk by race, age, and cholesterol quintiles.
- Multivariate models used to adjust for confounding factors.
Main Results:
- Black women under 55 had a 76% increased risk of stroke death compared to white women.
- In Black women under 55, the highest cholesterol quintile was an independent predictor of stroke mortality.
- A positive association was found between continuous cholesterol and nonhemorrhagic stroke death in women under 55.
Conclusions:
- Cholesterol is a risk factor for nonhemorrhagic stroke death in women under 55.
- The association between cholesterol and stroke mortality is stronger in Black women under 55 than in white women.
- Cholesterol is important for predicting stroke mortality in young women, aiding prevention strategies.