Overweight and Obesity in Young Adulthood and the Risk of Stroke: a Meta-analysis

• Published in: Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases Vol. 25; no. 12; pp. 2995 - 3004
• Main Authors: Guo, Yan, MD, Yue, Xue-jing, MD, Li, He-hua, MD, Song, Zhi-xiu, MD, Yan, Hai-qing, MD, Zhang, Ping, MD, Gui, Yong-kun, MD, Chang, Li, MD, Li, Tong, MD, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2016
• Subjects: Age of Onset; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular; Humans; meta-analysis; Neurology; obesity; Odds Ratio; overweight; Pediatric Obesity - diagnosis; Pediatric Obesity - epidemiology; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; stroke; Stroke - diagnosis; Stroke - epidemiology; Weight Gain; Young adults; meta-analysis; Young adults; overweight; stroke; body mass index; obesity
• ISSN: 1052-3057; 1532-8511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2016.08.018

Background A systematic review assessing the association between overweight and obesity in young adulthood and stroke risk is lacking. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between overweight and obesity in young adulthood and stroke risk. Methods We systematically searched PubMed and Embase databases for related studies of human subjects in the English language. Two investigators independently selected original studies in a 2-step process. Fixed- and random-effects models were used to calculate pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were also performed. Results Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled adjusted RR of stroke was 1.36 (95% CI: 1.28-1.44) for overweight in young adulthood and 1.81 (95% CI: 1.45-2.25) for obesity in young adulthood. In subgroup analyses, overweight and obesity in young adulthood increased the risk of stroke in most groups, except for the group of stroke subtype. For ischemic stroke, the adjusted RR was 1.40 (95% CI: 1.24-1.58) for overweight in young adulthood and 1.78 (95% CI: 1.003-3.16) for obesity in young adulthood, whereas adjusted RR for hemorrhagic stroke was 1.25 (95% CI: .83-1.90) for overweight in young adulthood and 1.80 (95% CI: .97-3.35) for obesity in young adulthood. Conclusions Overweight and obesity in young adulthood are associated with an increased risk of stroke, probably, independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. The risk effect gradually increases with increasing body weight.