A patient whose brother or sister has had a stroke could be up to 94% more likely to suffer the same fate than a person with stroke-free siblings, caution researchers in Sweden (Circ Cardiovasc Genet. 2012;5:226-233).
The study identified 30,735 stroke-free siblings of persons with incident ischemic stroke recorded between 1987 and 2007. (The stroke-free siblings were referred to as “exposed” participants in the study.) An additional 152,391 stroke-free persons with stroke-free siblings were also included in the analysis; these individuals were known as “unexposed” participants.
Compared with unexposed siblings, exposed siblings were: 94% more likely to have an ischemic stroke at age 55 years or younger if their sibling’s stroke occurred at age 55 years or younger; 64% more likely to have an ischemic stroke if they shared two parents with the affected sibling (the sibling who had a stroke); 61% more likely to have an ischemic stroke whether they shared one or two parents with their affected sibling; and 41% more likely to have an ischemic stroke if they shared only one parent with the affected sibling.
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Stroke risk was not influenced by the gender of either sibling.
Genetics might not be the only factor at play: Similar—and modifiable—lifestyle habits within families can also affect a person’s stroke risk, the researchers said.
