Joint effect of ischemic stroke and obesity on the risk of venous thromboembolism: the Tromsø Study

Abstract

Background: Patients with ischemic stroke have increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Obesity is prevalent in stroke patients and a well-established risk factor for VTE. Whether obesity further increases the VTE risk in patients with stroke remains unclear.<p> <p>Objectives: We investigated the joint effect of ischemic stroke and obesity on the risk of incident VTE in a population-based cohort. <p>Methods: Participants (n = 29,920) were recruited from the fourth to sixth surveys of the Tromsø Study (1994-1995, 2001, and 2007-2008) and followed through 2014. Incident events of ischemic stroke and VTE during follow-up were recorded. Hazard ratios (HRs) of VTE with 95% CIs were estimated according to combined categories of ischemic stroke and obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m² ), with exposure to neither risk factors as reference. <p>Results: During a median follow-up of 19.6 years, 1388 participants experienced ischemic stroke and 807 participants developed VTE. Among those with stroke, 51 developed VTE, yielding an incidence rate of VTE after stroke of 7.2 per 1000 personyears (95% CI, 5.5-9.5). In subjects without stroke, obesity was associated with a 1.8- fold higher VTE risk (HR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.47-2.11). In nonobese subjects, stroke was associated with a 1.8-fold higher VTE risk (HR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.27-2.46). Obese subjects with stroke had a 2-fold increased VTE risk (HR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.37-4.36). <p>Conclusion: The combination of obesity and ischemic stroke did not yield an excess risk of VTE. Our findings suggest that obese subjects with ischemic stroke do not have a more than additive risk of VTE.