Factors associated with stroke among California's senior population: Differences by gender

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

David J. Reynen, MPH, MPPA, Alisa S. Kamigaki, MPH, Nan Pheatt, MPH, MT(ASCP), and Lily A. Chaput, MD, MPH. California Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program, California Department of Health Services, 1616 Capitol Avenue, Suite 74.317, MS 7212, P.O. Box 997413, Sacramento, CA 95899-7413, (916) 552-9882, DReynen@dhs.ca.gov

Background: Healthy People 2010 calls for a 20 percent reduction in stoke mortality, advocates behavioral changes to reduce one's risk for stroke, and encourages the elimination of disparities. Accomplishing these objectives is predicated upon understanding the current disparities. This study describes gender-related risk factors for stroke.

Methods: A total of 8,668 community-dwelling seniors aged 65 years or older responded to the 2003 California Health Interview Survey. Participants were classified as those who reported having been told by a physician that they had had a stroke versus those who had not. Logistic regression models were used to determine risk factors for stroke, by gender.

Results: The age-adjusted prevalence estimates for stroke are 8.6% (95%CI=7.3%-9.9%) for men and 9.0% (95%CI=8.0%-10.1%) for women. Age-and race/ethnicity-adjusted models suggest that high blood pressure (male: OR=2.32, 95%CI=1.59-3.39 vs. female: OR=1.70, 95%CI=1.18-2.44), heart disease (male: 2.18, 1.45-3.28 vs. female: 1.69, 1.26-2.27), and prior history of falls (male: 2.03, 1.25-3.32 vs. female: 1.72, 1.23-2.39) were more predictive of stroke in men than in women, but self-reported fair/poor health (male: 1.80, 1.28-2.54 vs. female: 2.25, 1.61-3.14), marital status (male: 1.39, 0.97-1.99 vs. female: 1.69, 1.20-2.37) and smoking (male: 1.17, 0.62-2.18 vs. female: 1.70, 1.08-2.68) were more predictive of stroke in women than in men. Diabetes and physical inactivity were not significantly predictive of stroke for either gender.

Conclusions: Risk factors for stroke differ by gender. Understanding these factors may allow for the development of programs and policies focused on reducing stroke mortality and stoke-related risk behaviors among California's seniors.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, a member of the audience will be able to do the following

1. Describe the burden of stroke among California’s senior population.
2. List gender-related risk factors for stroke among California’s senior population, as presented in this paper.
3. Discuss how the information concerning stroke and its associated factors, as presented in this paper, might be used in control and prevention efforts.

Keywords: Strokes, Elderly

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Innovations in Long-term Care

The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA