Risk factors in stroke in a Mexican-American population (Houston).

To date, there is little information available on stroke risk factors in a major ethnic minority such as Mexican-Americans (M-A) in the USA. Forty-three M-A patients were admitted to The Methodist Hospital and Ben Taub General Hospital (Houston) for a 12-month period, with diagnosis of atherosclerotic stroke. Thrombosis was diagnosed in 31 patients (72%), embolism from atherosclerotic sources in seven (16.4%), and parenchymal hemorrhage in five (11.6%). Hypertension was a common risk factor in all groups, being higher in hemorrhage followed by thrombosis and embolism. Arteriosclerotic heart disease was a common risk to all stroke types. TIAs, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, associated atherosclerotic lesions, smoking, obesity, erythrocytosis and sedentary life were significantly associated with embolism; less so with thrombosis or hemorrhage. Gout was only associated with thrombosis. These results indicate similar risk factors for Anglo-saxons and M-A in the USA with some minor differences between the Mexican and the USA stroke series.