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Wealth Helps Lower Your Stroke Risk
(May 1, 2008) - People who are well off are less likely to suffer a stroke (Read about "Stroke") before they turn 65. After that, wealth makes little difference. Higher wealth is linked with a lower risk of stroke in Americans between the ages of 50 and 64, but does not predict strokes in those over age 65, researchers reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
"We confirmed that lower wealth, education and income are associated with increased stroke up to age 65, and wealth is the strongest predictor of stroke among the factors we looked at," said Mauricio Avendano, Ph.D., co-author of the study. "After age 65, the association of education, income and wealth with stroke are very weak, and wealth did not clearly predict stroke."
This is the first study assessing the age patterns of wealth, income and education disparities in stroke incidence in a national sample of older Americans. It's also the first study reporting that wealth status predicts stroke incidence independently of income and education, said Avendano.
In this study, Avendano and co-author M. Maria Glymour, Sc.D., differentiated between income (the annual earnings of all household members) and wealth (the total of all financial and housing assets - such as inherited money- minus the liabilities).
"Wealth more comprehensively reflects both lifelong earnings and intergenerational transfers, and increases access to medical care and other material and psychosocial resources," Avendano said.
Researchers found that the 10 percent with the lowest wealth had three times the stroke risk at age 50 to 64, compared with those in the 75-89th percentile. However, at age 65 and older, stroke risk was not significantly different between the two wealth groups for men or women.
"We expected wealth to be a strong predictor of stroke in the elderly," Avendano said. "We were surprised to see that it was not associated with stroke beyond age 65."
Among the study's other findings:
- Lower wealth, income and education in those age 50-74 were associated with a higher prevalence of high blood pressure, smoking, low physical activity, excessive weight, diabetes and heart disease - all risk factors for stroke. (Read about "Hypertension: High Blood Pressure" "Quit Smoking" "Getting Started on Fitness" "Obesity" "Diabetes" "Coronary Heart Disease")
- Although higher education predicted a lower stroke risk among 50 - 64-year-olds, the risk was not significant after the researchers adjusted for income and wealth.
- Education was not associated with lower stroke risk after age 65.
Note: Statements and conclusions of study authors that are published here are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect this hospital's policy or position. This hospital makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability.
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