title: A positive relation between high hemoglobin values and the risk of ischemic stroke. Progetto 3A Investigators.
abstract: We examined the relationship between the hemoglobin concentration and the risk of ischemic stroke using data from a hospital-based case-control study. A total of 143 patients (age 30-69 years) with a diagnosis of cerebral infarction confirmed by computerized tomography scan and 143 age- and sex-matched controls entered the study. Hemoglobin was higher in the patients with stroke (14.2 +/- 1.6 g/l, mean +/- SD) than in controls (13.7 +/- 1.6 g/l; p < 0.05). Compared with subjects with hemoglobin levels of less than 13 g/l (reference category), the relative risk of ischemic stroke, after allowance for potential risk factors, was 2.0 (95% CI 0.8-4.9) for the 13-13.9 g/l quartile, 2.8 (95% CI 1.2-6.5) for the 14-14.9 g/l quartile, and 3.2 (95% CI 1.4-7.4) for the 14 + g/l quartile (chi 2 for linear trend 7.27, p < 0.01). We conclude that the hemoglobin concentration may be an indicator of risk for ischemic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Mascio
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marchioli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vitullo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tognoni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006452:Hemoglobinometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed