title: Risk factors for first-ever ischemic stroke: a hospital-based case-control study in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Numerous population-based epidemiological studies have shown the prevalence and strength of vascular risk factors for stroke but little is known about risk factors of stroke in Taiwan. The aim of this study was to identify vascular risk factors in a group of first-ever ischemic stroke patients in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study consisted of 228 consecutively hospitalized cases of first-ever ischemic stroke and 228 healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects. Conditional logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant risk factors included hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.53-4.80), atrial fibrillation (OR 14.8, 95% CI = 2.32-94.73), ischemic heart disease (OR 4.4, 95% CI = 1.48-13.38), cigarette smoking (OR 2.3, 95% CI = 1.10-4.96), left ventricular hypertrophy (OR 2.7, 95% CI = 1.18-6.16), and other abnormal electrocardiographic findings (OR 2.1, 95% CI = 1.11-3.80).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several vascular risk factors of first-ever ischemic stroke were identified. A population-based study involving more vascular risk factors is needed for generalization.
authors.affiliation: First Section, Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung.
authors.forename: Teng-Yeow
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Mei-Chiun
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Ku-Chou
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*