A strong dose-response relationship between the number of cigarettes smoked daily and ischemic stroke was observed among young men, while smoking fewer cigarettes may reduce the risk of ischemic stroke in this group, a recent study found. The Stroke Prevention in Young Men Study is a population-based study of risk factors for ischemic stroke in men aged 15 to 49 years. Researchers examined the dose-response relationship between the quantity of cigarettes smoked and the odds of developing an ischemic stroke. They found:

• The study population consisted of 615 cases and 530 controls.
• The odds ratio for the current smoking group vs never smokers was 1.88.
• When the current smoking group was stratified by number of cigarettes smoked, there was a dose-response relationship for the odds ratio, ranging from 1.46 for those smoking <11 cigarettes per day to 5.66 for those smoking ≥40 cigarettes per day.