The 10 risk factors were: previous history of hypertension, lower levels of regular physical activity, higher apolipoprotein (Apo)B/ApoA1 ratio, diet (highest vs lowest tertile of modified Alternative Healthy Eating Index), psychosocial factors, current smoking, higher alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus, higher waist hip ration and cardiac causes.
A related commentary suggests that three key messages can be drawn from this study. First, stroke is a highly preventable disease globally, irrespective of age and sex. Second, the relative importance of modifiable risk factors necessitates the development of regional or ethnic-specific primary prevention programmes, including priority settings such as focusing on risk factors contributing most to the risk of stroke in a particular region. Third, additional research on stroke risk factors is needed for countries and ethnic groups not included in this study, as well as definitive cost-effectiveness research on primary stroke prevention in keypopulations (eg, different age, sex, ethnicity, or region).