Combined effects of hypertension and diabetes mellitus with stroke among Thais in the central region of Thailand: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine associations of individual and combined effects of hypertension and diabetes with stroke among Thais aged 55 years and older

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Cross-sectional data from national screening program for metabolic syndrome in Thailand for the year 2010 among participants who lived in central region of Thailand were used. The number of participants was 13,268 in the analysis.

RESULTS: The prevalence of stroke was 0.9%. Associations between hypertension and diabetes found among participants who had hypertension only, diabetes only, and both hypertension and diabetes were: 8.99 (95% CI 4.63-17.43), 3.72 (95% CI 1.03-13.37), 10.48 (95% CI 4.54-24.20) among males and 5.16 (95% CI 2.29-11.53), 6.55 (95% CI 2.19-19.55), and 9.29 (95% CI 3.81-22.68) among females, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The present study suggested dramatically the strong effects of the association of combined hypertension and diabetes with stroke. Strengthening health promotion programs for the prevention of hypertension, diabetes, especially having both diseases after screening, is important among Thai population.