Lecture 17: Stroke Risk Factors and Meta-Analysis

Question 1

Silent stroke

Answer 1

stroke that doesn’t have visible symptoms

Question 2

Modifiable risk factors of stroke

Answer 2

• smoking
• cholesterol
• alcohol use
• hypertension

Question 3

Non-modifiable risk factors of stroke

Answer 3

• age
• gender
• ethnicity
• family history

Question 4

Regarding strokes, what happens when you quit smoking?

Answer 4

After a few years, you risk of stroke is the same as a person who doesn’t smoke.

Question 5

How does smoking increase your risk of stroke?

Answer 5

• damages blood vessel cells
• changes ration of HDL to LDL
• makes blood more likely to clot
• reduces amount of oxygen carried
• risks become more reversible down the list

Question 6

Gender

Answer 6

• men 33% more likely to get stroke
• men and women have different mortality rates from strokes (women more likely to die because they live longer then men)
• strokes affect men and women at different ages

Question 7

Meta-analysis

Answer 7

-a statistical technique for combining the findings from multiple independent studies

Question 8

Forest plots

Answer 8

• Visual ways to present results of meta-analysis
• squares represent sample size (large or small)
• lines = standard deviation
• diamond represents weighted mean estimate of effect size

Question 9

Funnel Plot

Answer 9

• empty area of funnel plot suggest biases

- use funnel plot to show “lack” - can use to identify what types of studies are missing

Question 10

Alcohol consumption and stroke

Answer 10

-heavy alcohol consumption leads to stroke risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and atrial fibrillation