Uncovering the Silent Predictors: A Population-based Study of Stroke Risk and Lifestyle Factors

Abstract

Stroke impacts people all over the world and is a significant cause of death and long-term disability. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between stroke status and various sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical variables in a large population-based study. A cross-sectional analysis was done based on the national health survey. Assessment of stroke status involved considering sociological factors (gender, education, income, and marital status), behavioral variables (alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical activity), and clinical markers (BMI, glucose levels, hypertension, and heart disease). The associations investigated were evaluated by using chi-square and independent t-tests, p<0.05. Prevalence of stroke is significantly associated with alcohol consumption (p=0.026) and income level (p=0.025) of the studied population. But there were no differences in stroke risk by gender, area of residence, use of tobacco, eating habits, physical activity, or chronic stress. Moreover, mean values of BMI, glucose, sleep hours, and stroke risk score were not significantly different between stroke and non-stroke groups (p>0.05). Alcohol consumption and income level were identified to be associated with stroke. Thus, public health interventions may be warranted. All other variables showed no significant relationship, suggesting stroke risk is multifactorial.