AGE-RELATED RISK-FACTORS FOR ISCHEMIC STROKE IN ITALIAN MEN

We evaluated the age-related stroke risk factors in 164 Italian male p atients with a diagnosis of first-ever ischemic stroke. Based on the a ge, we divided the patients into two groups: 42 patients ranging in ag e from 40 to 55 years, and 122 patients ranging in age from 56 to 75 y ears. For each case, an age-matched control without a history or sympt oms indicating vascular disease was randomly selected from hospital pa tients. Information were obtained on the various risk factors. Univari ate analysis showed that for the younger patients high systolic blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridemia, smoking and family history of ischemic stroke were significantly related to stroke. In th e older patients, high diastolic blood pressure and smoking had a stro ng association with stroke. Multivariate analysis showed that high sys tolic blood pressure, hypertriglyceridemia, smoking and family history of stroke remained significantly and independently associated with st roke in patients up to the age of 55 years. Among patients 56 years or older, only high systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and smoking w ere significant predictors of stroke. In conclusion, the sets of facto rs associated with the risk of stroke among young and old male patient s appear to be different.