China: obesity is ’sleeping giant’

Trend is increasing risk of stokes and associated mortality

A large prospective study has shown that the rising prevalence of obesity in the Chinese population is increasing people’s risk for suffering from and dying of a stroke. The study conducted by Lydia Bazzano and colleagues studeed 154,736 Chinese people aged 40 years or older. During follow-up lasting an average of 8.3 years, 7,489 people suffered a stroke, 3,924 of which were fatal. According to the researchers, stroke is currently the leading cause of death in China.

Overweight and obesity conferred respectively a 43% and 72% increase in ischemic stroke risk and a 60% and 89% increase in hemorrhagic stroke risk, relative to normal weight, after accounting for variables including age, gender, cigarette smoking, urban residence, and physical inactivity. Stroke mortality was 15% and 47% more likely in overweight and obese people, respectively, than in normal weight people. Additionally, hypertension and diabetes were more common in overweight and obese individuals than normal weight people.

The authors were keen to stress the importance of preventative measures: ‘Implementing effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity is urgently required to decrease the clinical and public health burden of stroke in China. Only then will it be possible to prevent the sleeping giant of obesity and stroke from fully awakening in this country.’

Source: MedWire News, 26 February 2010.

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