Association Between Smoking and Stroke: A Retrospective Study Using the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Cardiovascular Disease Research

Background:

• Stroke is a leading global cause of death and disability.
• Smoking is a major modifiable risk factor for stroke, contributing to vascular damage and thrombosis.
• Understanding the specific associations between smoking and stroke across different demographics is vital for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between smoking status and self-reported stroke.
• To analyze how demographic and socioeconomic factors modify this relationship.
• To identify high-risk subgroups within the smoking population for targeted stroke prevention.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data.
• Inclusion of demographic (age, gender, race) and socioeconomic (education, income) variables as covariates.
• Statistical analysis using cross-tabulations, reporting odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Main Results:

• Smokers are 1.71 times more likely to experience stroke than non-smokers.
• Young adult smokers (18-24) exhibit a 5.2-fold increased stroke risk.
• Female smokers have a 2.8 times higher stroke risk; elevated risks observed in Hispanic smokers, highly educated smokers, and those earning less than $50,000.

Conclusions:

• Smoking is a significant risk factor for stroke across various demographic and socioeconomic groups.
• Young adults, women, Hispanic individuals, the highly educated, and lower-income individuals who smoke are particularly vulnerable.
• Public health strategies should focus on tailored smoking cessation and stroke prevention programs for these identified high-risk populations.