title: Age differences in the associations of behavioral and psychosocial factors with stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke remains a major public health burden. Few studies have focused on the age differences in the associations of behavioral and psychosocial factors with stroke while no study focusing on the effect of severe psychological distress (SPD) on stroke has been conducted. The aim of this study was to examine the age differences in these risk factors for stroke as young (18-44 years), middle aged (45-64 years), and elderly (65 years or older).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1,258 adults with stroke and 39,985 controls were selected from the 2005 California Health Interview Survey. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the associations of the factors with stroke at different ages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of SPD was 10% in cases and 3.6% in controls, respectively. Overall, current smoking, lack of physical activity, alcohol consumption, SPD, type II diabetes, male, older age, and unemployment were all associated with a higher prevalence of stroke. Practically, we found that smoking and SPD were associated with the prevalence of stroke in young adults, lack of physical activity was associated with the prevalence of stroke in middle-aged adults, and lack of physical activity and SPD were associated with the prevalence of stroke in the elderly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Appropriate intervention for reducing stroke and eliminating its disparities may be developed separately at each age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA. wangl2@etsu.edu
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ke-Sheng
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011584:Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult