SECRETO Study Grp; Jaakonmäki, Nina; Zedde, Marialuisa; Sarkanen, Tomi; Martinez-Majander, Nicolas; Tuohinen, Suvi; Sinisalo, Juha; Ryödi, Essi; Autere, Jaana; Hedman, Marja; Junttola, Ulla; Huhtakangas, Jaana K.; Grimaldi, Teresa; Pascarella, Rosario; Nordanstig, Annika; Bech-Hanssen, Odd; Holbe, Christine; Busch, Raila; Fromm, Annette; Ylikotila, Pauli; Turgut, Esme Ekizoglu; Amorim, Isabel; Ryliskiene, Kristina; Tulkki, Lauri; Amaya Pascasio, Laura; Licenik, Radim; Ferdinand, Phillip; Tsivgoulis, Georgios; Jatuzis, Dalius; Korv, Liisa; Korv, Janika; Pezzini, Alessandro; Fonseca, Ana Catarina; Yesilot, Nilufer; Roine, Risto O.; Waje-Andreassen, Ulrike; von Sarnowski, Bettina; Redfors, Petra; Huhtakangas, Juha; Numminen, Heikki; Jakala, Pekka; Putaala, Jukka
(2022)
Objectives: We examined the association between obesity and early-onset cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS) and whether fat distribution or sex altered this association. Materials and Methods: This prospective, multi-center, case-control study included 345 patients, aged 18-49 years, with first-ever, acute CIS. The control group included 345 age-and sex-matched stroke-free individuals. We measured height, weight, waist circumference, and hip circumference. Obesity metrics analyzed included body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-stature ratio (WSR), and a body shape index (ABSI). Models were adjusted for age, level of education, vascular risk factors, and migraine with aura. Results: After adjusting for demographics, vascular risk factors, and migraine with aura, the highest tertile of WHR was associated with CIS (OR for highest versus lowest WHR tertile 2.81, 95%CI 1.43-5.51; P=0.003). In sex-specific analyses, WHR tertiles were not associated with CIS. However, using WHO WHR cutoff values (>0.85 for women, >0.90 for men), abdominally obese women were at increased risk of CIS (OR 2.09, 95%CI 1.02-4.27; P=0.045). After adjusting for confounders, WC, BMI, WSR, or ABSI were not associated with CIS. Conclusions: Abdominal obesity measured with WHR was an independent risk factor for CIS in young adults after rigorous adjustment for concomitant risk factors.