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Studies of modifiable risk factors for stroke have been conducted largely in developed countries. Few data have been collected in the developing world, where 85% of stroke mortality occurs.
Replicating in part the methodology of the 2004 INTERHEART study of risk factors for first myocardial infarction (JW Gen Med Oct 5 2004), researchers recruited 3000 patients with recent first strokes in 22 countries on 6 continents; both developing and developed countries were represented. Each case patient was matched by age and sex with a control patient from the same community who did not have a history of stroke. Virtually all case patients received neuroimaging to determine stroke type (78% ischemic; 22% hemorrhagic).
As in the INTERHEART study, a sma…