Abstract
Inflammation, a vascular risk factor, is more pronounced among ethnic South Asians
compared to ethnic Chinese in the general population. We compared serum erythrocyte
sedimentation rate (ESR) levels between ethnic South Asian and Chinese acute ischemic
stroke patients, and further investigated if metabolic syndrome or central obesity
could account for any difference detected. We prospectively recruited consecutive
ischemic stroke patients within seven days of onset. Measurement of serum ESR was
performed within two days of admission. Median serum ESR was higher among the 55 ethnic
South Asian (16 mm/h IQR 3–35) compared to the 165 ethnic Chinese patients (9 mm/h
IQR 4–19), p=0.004). Serum ESR was correlated with age. Higher serum ESR was associated with female
gender, non-smokers, patients with central obesity and low high-density lipoprotein
(HDL) cholesterol. Using regression analysis, South Asian ethnicity remained significantly
associated with serum ESR, independent of age, gender, smoking status, metabolic syndrome,
central obesity and low HDL. Ethnic South Asian ischemic stroke patients have a higher
inflammatory state compared to ethnic Chinese patients. As the higher inflammatory
state is independent of demographic and risk factors, we propose an underlying genetic
or cultural basis for the ethnic difference.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
September 16,
2008
Received in revised form:
September 10,
2008
Received:
June 9,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
