Lifetime Risk for Stroke Varies With Genetic Risk, Cardiovascular Health

WEDNESDAY, July 20, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The lifetime risk of stroke (LTRS) varies with polygenic risk and cardiovascular health, with the highest score seen for those with a high genetic risk and inadequate Life's Simple 7, according to a study published online July 20 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Emy A. Thomas, M.P.H., from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and colleagues estimated the LTRS by levels of genetic risk among 11,568 middle-aged adults who were free of stroke at baseline and were followed for a median 28 years. The remaining LTRS was estimated based on levels of genetic risk according to a validated stroke polygenic risk score and cardiovascular health level based on the American Heart Association Life's Simple 7 recommendations.

The researchers found that the remaining LTRS was 23.2, 13.8, and 9.6 percent, respectively, for individuals aged 45 years with high, intermediate, and low polygenic risk scores, respectively. The highest LTRS was seen for those with both a high genetic risk and inadequate Life's Simple 7 (24.8 percent). Those with an optimal Life's Simple 7 had about a 30 to 43 percent lower LTRS than those with an inadequate Life's Simple 7 across all polygenic risk score categories, corresponding to almost six extra years lived free of stroke.

"Studies such as ours lay the groundwork toward realizing the potential of personalizing genetic risk information to motivate lifestyle and vascular health changes and prevent stroke," the authors write.

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