TOPLINE:
Smoking was associated with a doubling in risk for cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS), with the strongest association in men and those aged 45-49 years in a new study.
METHODOLOGY:
- In a prospective case-control study, 546 patients with CIS (47% women) aged 18-49 years from 19 European stroke centers were assessed between 2013 and 2022.
- One sex-matched and age-matched (± 5 years) stroke-free control participant was included for each enrolled patient.
- Participants completed standardized questionnaires that collected data on tobacco use, intensity of use, socioeconomic status, and comorbidities.
TAKEAWAY:
- Patients with CIS significantly differed from control individuals in several risk factors including smoking (32.8% vs 14.8%; P
- After adjusting for confounders, smoking was linked to an increased risk for young CIS…