9:50 a.m. Abstract 85 Among Mexican-American family members, a stroke connection. In a study of 524 patients with ischemic strokes or "mini-strokes," Mexican- Americans were found to be twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to have a sibling with stroke, Michigan scientists reported. The finding came after adjustments for other factors. Overall, 36 percent of patients reported a family history of stroke; 26 percent a parental history, and 13 percent a sibling history. The population of this Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi (Texas) Project was 48 percent white, 52 percent Mexican-American, average age 73. Age, gender and high cholesterol were associated with a parental history of stroke, but high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and atrial fibrillation were not. Noting "significant associations" between ethnicity, stroke risk factors and family history of stroke, the researchers believe Mexican-Americans may be an ideal population for family stroke studies.

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Contact: Carole Bullock
carole.bullock@heart.org
214-706-1279
American Heart Association
7-Feb-2004