Modifiable stroke risk factors in volunteers willing to participate in a prevention program.
The current trends in stroke incidence require continued efforts to improve primary prevention. Compared to large-scale public health approaches, more limited programs targeting volunteers may offer some advantages. We invited all 12,824 members of a health insurance company program who lived within 50 km form one of two study sites to participate in a vascular screening program and aimed at reducing modifiable risk factors. 1,837 persons registered and participated (14.3%, mean age 53 +/- 12 years, 50% men). Using the Framingham stroke risk profile for persons aged 55 years or above (n = 961, 52.3%), 97 stroke events can be predicted for this age group within 10 years. The majority of these 97 events will occur in those with men resting blood pressure values +/- 140mm Hg (systolic) or +/- 90 mm Hg (diastolic; 420 persons, mean age 64 +/- 7 years, 60 expected events), or with a particularly high age- and sex-adjusted risk (288 persons, mean age 68 +/- 7 years, 60 expected events). Our pilot study provides an estimate of the prevalence of modifiable vascular risk factor among volunteer participants of a prevention program. Possible benefits of this approach will be investigated in a second step using a randomized intervention.
Sitzer
M
M
Neurologische Klinik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Deutschland.
Skutta
M
M
Siebler
M
M
Sitzer
G
G
Siegrist
J
J
Steinmetz
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking