Association of lifestyle, inflammatory factors, and dietary patterns with the risk of suffering a stroke: A case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Lifestyle, including dietary patterns, could involve specific factors participating in inflammation that confer a higher risk of suffering a stroke. However, little attention has been apparently given to habitual food consumption in patients suffering a cerebrovascular event.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the influence of dietary habits as well as other lifestyle-related variables on the risk of suffering a stroke.


METHODS
A case-control study was designed. Fifty-one cases (age: 59.1 ± 9.1y.o; BMI; 30.8 ± 3.4 kg/m2) and 51 controls (age: 61.1 ± 9.1y.o; BMI; 30.4 ± 3.6 kg/m2) were enrolled in the study. Anthropometric and body composition variables were measured. Dietary information was obtained from a validated food frequency questionnaire. Physical activity and lifestyle-related factors were assessed. Blood samples were drawn.


RESULTS
Patients suffering a stroke showed higher prevalence of diabetes (30 vs. 7.7%; P = 0.020) and hypertension (74.5 vs. 40.3%; P < 0.001) and were less physically active (36.7 vs. 66.6%; P = 0.024) than controls. Patients registered worse glucose and lipid profiles, higher levels of hepatic biomarkers, and higher blood cell counts than controls. Stroked patients showed lower adherence to a statistically derived healthy dietary pattern than controls (23.5 vs. 42.3%; P = 0.017). A logistic regression model was built up considering hypertension, diabetes, smoking, physical activity, adherence to a 'healthy dietary pattern' and C-reactive protein concentration. The final model strongly associated with the risk of suffering a stroke (R2: 44.6%; Pmodel< 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Lifestyle variables such as physical activity, smoking habit, and a dietary pattern including foods with low inflammatory potential play an important role in the reduction of the risk of suffering a stroke.
a Department of Food Science and Physiology , University of Navarra , Irunlarrea s/n 31008 , Pamplona , Spain.|b Centro de Investigación Biomédica en red. Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CiberObn) , Spain.
Itziar
I
Abete
a Department of Food Science and Physiology , University of Navarra , Irunlarrea s/n 31008 , Pamplona , Spain.|b Centro de Investigación Biomédica en red. Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CiberObn) , Spain.|c Health Research Institute of Navarra (IDISNA) , Spain.
Maria Angeles
MA
Zulet
d Department of Neurosciences , Biodonostia Health Research Institute (IIS Biodonostia) , Paseo Doctor Beguiristain 20014, San Sebastian , Spain.
Estíbaliz
E
Goyenechea
d Department of Neurosciences , Biodonostia Health Research Institute (IIS Biodonostia) , Paseo Doctor Beguiristain 20014, San Sebastian , Spain.
Vanessa
V
Blazquez
d Department of Neurosciences , Biodonostia Health Research Institute (IIS Biodonostia) , Paseo Doctor Beguiristain 20014, San Sebastian , Spain.
Ana Maria
AM
de Arce Borda
d Department of Neurosciences , Biodonostia Health Research Institute (IIS Biodonostia) , Paseo Doctor Beguiristain 20014, San Sebastian , Spain.|e Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED) , Spain.
Adolfo
A
Lopez de Munain
a Department of Food Science and Physiology , University of Navarra , Irunlarrea s/n 31008 , Pamplona , Spain.|b Centro de Investigación Biomédica en red. Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CiberObn) , Spain.|c Health Research Institute of Navarra (IDISNA) , Spain.
J Alfredo
JA
Martinez
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D015415:Biomarkers
C-reactive protein; Dietary patterns; Inflammation; Obesity; Physical activity; Stroke