Overweight and Obesity in Young Adulthood and the Risk of Stroke: a Meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
A systematic review assessing the association between overweight and obesity in young adulthood and stroke risk is lacking. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between overweight and obesity in young adulthood and stroke risk.


METHODS
We systematically searched PubMed and Embase databases for related studies of human subjects in the English language. Two investigators independently selected original studies in a 2-step process. Fixed- and random-effects models were used to calculate pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were also performed.


RESULTS
Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled adjusted RR of stroke was 1.36 (95% CI: 1.28-1.44) for overweight in young adulthood and 1.81 (95% CI: 1.45-2.25) for obesity in young adulthood. In subgroup analyses, overweight and obesity in young adulthood increased the risk of stroke in most groups, except for the group of stroke subtype. For ischemic stroke, the adjusted RR was 1.40 (95% CI: 1.24-1.58) for overweight in young adulthood and 1.78 (95% CI: 1.003-3.16) for obesity in young adulthood, whereas adjusted RR for hemorrhagic stroke was 1.25 (95% CI: .83-1.90) for overweight in young adulthood and 1.80 (95% CI: .97-3.35) for obesity in young adulthood.


CONCLUSIONS
Overweight and obesity in young adulthood are associated with an increased risk of stroke, probably, independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. The risk effect gradually increases with increasing body weight.
Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China.
Yan
Y
Guo
Clinical Skills Training Center, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China.
Xue-Jing
XJ
Yue
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, Henan, China.
He-Hua
HH
Li
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, Henan, China.
Zhi-Xiu
ZX
Song
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, Henan, China.
Hai-Qing
HQ
Yan
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, Henan, China.
Ping
P
Zhang
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, Henan, China.
Yong-Kun
YK
Gui
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, Henan, China.
Li
L
Chang
Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China. Electronic address: litong0833@126.com.
Tong
T
Li
D017668:Age of Onset; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015430:Weight Gain
Young adults; body mass index; meta-analysis; obesity; overweight; stroke