|
|
|
|
Infection within 1 week before ictus or examination was significantly more common among patients(38 of 197)than control subjects(10 of 197;odds ratio[OR],4.5;95%confidence interval[CI],2.1 to 9.7).Patients more often had febrile and subfebrile infections(>/=37.5 C)than control subjects(29 of 197;OR,7.0;95%CI,2.5 to 20).Respiratory tract infections were more common in both groups.Bacterial infections dominated among patients but not among control subjects.Infection increased the risk for cerebrovascular ischemia in all age groups;this reached significance for patients aged 51 to 60 and 61 to 70 years.The profile of vascular risk factors was similar in patients with and patients without previous infection.Infection remained a significant risk factor when previous stroke,hypertension,diabetes mellitus,coronary heart disease,and current smoking were included as covariates in a logistic model(OR,4.6;95%CI,1.9 to 11.3).Recent infection,primarily of bacterial origin,may be a risk factor for cerebrovascular ischemia in older as well as younger patients. |
|