Medical Research: Emerging Concepts and Applications Vol. 3

Background: Ischaemic stroke accounts for about 80% of the stroke population and is a leading cause of mortality, presenting a serious threat to public health. Most strokes occur in people older than 70 years and rarely occur in those below 35 years of age. Ischaemic stroke is a multifactorial condition influenced by modifiable risk factors, such as lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C and LDL-C) and glucose levels, as well as non-modifiable factors such as age. Understanding the contribution of these risk factors could enhance stroke prevention efforts.

Methods: This meta-analysis examined data available up to 2018 on both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors in patients with ischaemic stroke compared with healthy controls. Relevant data, including publication year, first author, ethnicity/country, numbers of stroke cases and controls, were extracted from eligible studies and analysed for heterogeneity.

Results: Among the risk factors analysed, triglyceride and glucose levels were significantly associated with ischaemic stroke risk, with an overall 95% CI of -0.62 to -0.09 for triglycerides (P = 0.008) and -1.08 to -0.14 for glucose (P = 0.01). Other factors, including total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C and age, did not show a significant association with ischaemic stroke (P > 0.05). The analysis revealed substantial heterogeneity among studies (P < 0.001; I² >96%).

Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that elevated triglyceride and glucose levels are significant predisposing factors for ischaemic stroke in Asian populations, underscoring the importance of managing these modifiable risk factors in stroke prevention strategies.