Relation between Serum Albumin Concentration and Stroke Incidence and Death: The NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study

Relatively high serum albumin levels have been associated with reduced cardio vascular mortality and coronary heart disease incidence. No prospective studies have examined serum albumin and stroke mortality and incidence. Therefore, data from the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) Epidemiologic Follow-up Study were examined to assess serum albumin level as a risk factor for stroke. White men aged 65–74 years with serum albumin concentrations of >4.4 g/dl had a risk of stroke incidence over a follow-up period of 9–16 years of only about two-thirds that of men with serum albumin concentrations of 4.4 g/dl were associated with a risk of stroke incidence only one-half and a risk of stroke death only one-fourth that seen at levels