title: Low socioeconomic status is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke: a case-control study in North Indian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke is a multifactorial disease and is influenced by complex environmental interactions. The contribution of various risk factors to the burden of stroke worldwide is not well known, particularly in developing countries. The present case-control study is aimed at exploring the association between a low socioeconomic status and the risk of ischemic stroke among the North Indian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study design was a hospital-based, case-control study. Age- and sex-matched controls were included. The demographic characteristics and risk factor variables were documented by means of a personal interview through a standardized case record form. The household asset index for determining the socioeconomic status (HAISS) was used for the assessment of the socioeconomic status of the population. HAISS was validated with the widely used Kuppuswamy scale for measurement of socioeconomic status. The multivariable logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds ratio associated with stroke.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 224 ischemic stroke patients and 224 controls were recruited between February 2009 and February 2012. The mean age of cases and controls was 53.47 ± 14 and 52.92 ± 13.4, respectively. The low economic status was independently associated with the risk of ischemic stroke after adjustment for demographic and risk factor variables (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.2-6.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that there is a significant association between a low socioeconomic status and the risk of ischemic stroke risk in North Indian population. Well-designed studies embedded with long-term prospective cohorts are required for confirming the results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Manya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: Prachi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kathuria
authors.forename: Pallavi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Awadh Kishor
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Pandit
authors.forename: Jitendra K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sahu
authors.forename: Kameshwar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prasad
mesh_terms: D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*