Risk Factors for Stroke in Subjects With Normal Blood Pressure

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Abstract
Background and Purpose— Although stroke is strongly associated with hypertension, some individuals with normal blood pressure (BP) experience a stroke. This prospective study explored risk factors for stroke in subjects with normal BP. Methods— A total of 11 228 men and 17 174 women, 45 to 73 years old, were examined in a population-based cohort study. Normal BP was defined as BP <140/90 mm Hg and no treatment for hypertension. The incidence of stroke was followed over a mean period of 6 years. Results— In the cohort, 10 938 (38%) had normal BP. Of them, 56 patients experienced a first-ever stroke (12% of all stroke). Compared with subjects without stroke during follow-up, these stroke subjects were older, had lower education, were often smokers and alcohol nondrinkers, and had a history of coronary heart disease (CHD), gastric ulcer, or renal calculus. Subjects with stroke had a higher body mass index (BMI) and a high-normal BP (130 to 139/85 to 89 mm Hg) more often. In a backward stepwise Cox-regression...