Open AccessPlasma free fatty acids and risk of stroke in the C ardiovascular H ealth S tudy
Author(s) -
Khawaja Owais,
Maziarz Marlena,
Biggs Mary L.,
Longstreth William T.,
Ix Joachim H.,
Kizer Jorge R.,
Zieman Susan,
Tracy Russell P.,
Mozaffarian Dariush,
Mukamal Kenneth J.,
Siscovick David S.,
Djoussé Luc
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international journal of stroke
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.375
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1747-4949
pISSN - 1747-4930
DOI - 10.1111/ijs.12216
Subject(s) - medicine , stroke (engine) , cardiovascular health , cardiology , disease , mechanical engineering , engineering
Background Although free fatty acids have been positively associated with risk factors for stroke, the role of plasma free fatty acids in the development of stroke has not been elucidated in older adults. Aims We sought to examine the association between plasma free fatty acids and incident stroke. Methods Prospective cohort of 4369 men and women ≥65 years of age in the C ardiovascular H ealth S tudy. Plasma levels of free fatty acids were measured at the 1992–1993 examination and stroke events were adjudicated by a committee of experts including neurologists and neuroradiologists. Cox regression was used to estimate the relative risk of stroke associated with free fatty acids concentrations. Results The average age among participants was 75 ± 5·2 years. During a median follow‐up of 11·4 years, 732 incident strokes occurred. The crude incidence rates of stroke were 14·5, 14·9, and 17·6 per 1000 person‐years across increasing tertiles of plasma free fatty acids. The adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for incident stroke was 1·05 (0·97–1·14) per standard deviation increase in plasma free fatty acids. Restriction to ischemic stroke did not alter the results [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval): 1·04 (0·96–1·14) per standard deviation higher free fatty acids], and there was no effect modification by adiposity ( P interaction = 0·18) or by diabetes ( P interaction = 0·15). Conclusion Our data did not show an association of plasma free fatty acids with incident stroke among community dwelling older adults.