Habitual physical activity reduces the risk of ischemic stroke: a case-control study in southern china.

BACKGROUND: To ascertain the relationship between habitual physical activity and the risk of ischemic stroke among the Chinese population. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted in Foshan, Guangdong Province, during 2007-2008. Information on physical activity exposure and lifestyle characteristics was obtained from 374 incident ischemic stroke patients and 464 hospital-based controls (mean age 66 years) using a validated and reliable questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between physical activity levels and the ischemic stroke risk. RESULTS: The control subjects reported significantly longer duration of strenuous sports and moderate activity in recent daily life than the stroke patients. Increased engagements in such leisure time activities were associated with reduced risks of ischemic stroke after adjustment for confounding factors. A significant inverse dose-response relationship was also found for total physical activity exposure, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.25 (95% confidence interval = 0.14-0.45) for older adults engaged in 22 or more metabolic equivalent task hours per week relative to those engaged in less than 10 metabolic equivalent task hours per week. CONCLUSIONS: The study provided evidence of an inverse association between habitual physical activity and the risk of ischemic stroke, which is important for the promotion and encouragement of leisure time exercise activities among elderly Chinese adults.

Tea consumption and ischemic stroke risk: a case-control study in southern China.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although experimental studies have suggested that tea consumption may reduce the risk of ischemic stroke, available epidemiological evidence is equivocal, mainly due to the lack of accurate measurements on tea exposure. This study aims to ascertain the relationship between tea drinking and ischemic stroke risk. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted in southern China from 2007 to 2008. A total of 374 patients with incident ischemic stroke and 464 control subjects (mean age, 69 years) were recruited from 3 hospitals in Foshan. Information on frequency and duration of tea drinking, quantity of dried tea leaves, and types of tea consumed, together with habitual diet and lifestyle characteristics, was obtained from participants using a validated and reliable questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were performed for tea consumption variables accounting for confounders that affect the ischemic stroke risk. RESULTS: A significant decrease in ischemic stroke risk was observed for drinking at least one cup of tea weekly (P=0.015) when compared with infrequent or nondrinkers, the risk reduction being largest by drinking one to 2 cups of green or oolong tea daily. Significant inverse dose-response relationships were also found for years of drinking and the amount of dried tea leaves brewed. The adjusted ORs for the highest level of consumption in terms of frequency of intake, duration of drinking, and average tea leaves brewed were 0.61 (95% CI, 0.40 to 0.94), 0.40 (95% CI, 0.25 to 0.64), and 0.27 (95% CI, 0.16 to 0.46), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term tea consumption is associated with reduced risk of ischemic stroke.