Stroke Risk Rises with Sibling Incidence

Previous studies on familial risk of ischemic stroke have suggested a genetic influence on the disease incidence.  Erik Ingelsson, from the Karolinska Institutet (Sweden), and colleagues analyzed hospital discharge and cause of death records in 30,735 people who had a sibling with a stroke and 152,391 adults of a similar age with no history of a sibling having a stroke. At the time of their sibling's stroke, people averaged 64 years old. The team found that if your brother or sister had a stroke, you may be at least 60% more likely to have one too.  Further, the researchers found that if your sibling was 55 years or younger at the time of the stroke, your risk of having one at age 55 or younger is almost doubled. Writing that: "There was 60% increased risk for ischemic stroke in individuals having a sibling with prior stroke, the study authors conclude that: "The familial effect was even higher for full sibling relations.”