Abstract
Our previous epidemiological study in the farming village (Tanushimaru) proved the importance of hypertension and hypoalbuminemia as risk factors for stroke.
The purpose of this report is to identify the features of stroke in the fishing village (Ushibuka) where hypoalbuminemia is unusual due to high intake of fish protein.
Cohort of the fishing village was consisted of stroke free 314 males (aged 50-79) and age, systolic blood pressure, electrocardiogram, serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, serum α-lipoprotein fraction, serum albumin, serum uric acid, drinking habits, smoking habits and body mass index of each individual were checked at the systematic re-examination in 1970. Statistical data were computed by multivariate analysis.
Thirty males had stroke during 8-year of following up period (1970-1978).
The mean value of age, systolic blood pressure and serum uric acid level were significantly higher in the stroke group compared with that in the non-stroke group, while serum cholesterol, triglyceride, α-lipoprotein fraction and albumin level were not significant.
High level of serum uric acid was correlated with high incidence of stroke.
According to stepwise discriminant analysis using above mentioned 11 variables, electrocardiographic abnormalities (Minnesota Code 4-1, 2, 3 7-1, 2 8-3) could discriminate 66.6% of strokes and when systolic blood pressure, serum uric acid, serum α-lipoprotein fraction and age were added in order, resultant discriminant rates were 71.6%, 73.9%, 74.2% and 74.5% respectively.
Standardized coefficients of linear discriminant functions were significant only in the following variables of electrocardiographic abnormalities, systolic blood pressure and serum uric acid level.
As well as electrocardiographic abnormalities and systolic blood pressure, high level of serum uric acid was noted to be an important risk factor of stroke in the fishing village (Ushibuka) where high intake of fish protein is common.
