This online calculator can predict your stroke risk

Date:
August 14, 2020
Source:
University of Virginia Health System
Summary:
Doctors can predict patients' stroke risk by using an online
tool that measures the severity of their metabolic syndrome, a
conglomeration of conditions that includes high blood pressure,
abnormal cholesterol levels and excess body fat.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Doctors can predict patients' risk for ischemic stroke based on the
severity of their metabolic syndrome, a conglomeration of conditions
that includes high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels and excess
body fat around the abdomen and waist, a new study finds.


==========================================================================
The study found that stroke risk increased consistently with metabolic
syndrome severity even in patients without diabetes. Doctors can use
this information - - and a scoring tool developed by a UVA Children's pediatrician and his collaborator at the University of Florida -- to
identify patients at risk and help them reduce that risk.

"We had previously shown that the severity of metabolic syndrome was
linked to future coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes," said UVA's
Mark DeBoer, MD.

"This study showed further links to future ischemic strokes." Ischemic
Stroke Risk DeBoer developed the scoring tool, an online calculator to
assess the severity of metabolic syndrome, with Matthew J. Gurka, PhD,
of the Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics at the University of Florida, Gainesville.

The tool is available for free at https://metscalc.org/.

To evaluate the association between ischemic stroke and metabolic
syndrome, DeBoer and Gurka reviewed more than 13,000 participants in
prior studies and their stroke outcomes. Among that group, there were
709 ischemic strokes over a mean period of 18.6 years assessed in the
studies. (Ischemic strokes are caused when blood flow to the brain is obstructed by blood clots or clogged arteries.

Hemorrhagic strokes, on the other hand, are caused when blood
vessels rupture.) The researchers used their tool to calculate "Z
scores" measuring the severity of metabolic syndrome among the study participants. They could then analyze the association between metabolic syndrome and ischemic stroke risk.

The subgroup with the highest association between metabolic syndrome
and risk for ischemic stroke was white women, the researchers found. In
this group, the research team was able to identify relationships between
the individual contributors to metabolic syndrome, such as high blood
pressure, and stroke risk.

The researchers note that race and sex did not seem to make a
major difference in stroke risk overall, and they caution that
the increased risk seen in white women could be the results of
chance alone. "Nevertheless," they write in a new scientific article
outlining their findings, "these results are notable enough that they
may warrant further study into race and sex differences." The overall relationship between metabolic syndrome severity and stroke risk was
clear, however. And this suggests people with metabolic syndrome can make lifestyle changes to reduce that risk. Losing weight, exercising more,
choosing healthy foods -- all can help address metabolic syndrome and
its harmful effects.

DeBoer hopes that the tool he and Gurka developed will help doctors
guide patients as they seek to reduce their stroke risk and improve
their health and well-being.

"In case there are still individuals out there debating whether to start exercising or eating a healthier diet," DeBoer said, "this study provides another wake-up call to motivate us all toward lifestyle changes."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
University_of_Virginia_Health_System. Note: Content may be edited for
style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Mark D. DeBoer, Stephanie L. Filipp, Mario Sims, Solomon K. Musani,
Matthew J. Gurka. Risk of Ischemic Stroke Increases Over the
Spectrum of Metabolic Syndrome Severity. Stroke, 2020; 51 (8):
2548 DOI: 10.1161/ STROKEAHA.120.028944 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200814101659.htm

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