Urinary and Respiratory Tract Infections May Increase the Risk of Double Stroke
Researchers have warned that those suffering from urinary or respiratory tract infections could be facing nearly double the risk of heart attacks and strokes than obesity.
The study, led by researcher Rahul Potluri of Britain’s Aston University, found that if the frequency of these common infections causing hospitalization continues for an excessive amount of time it could even lead to death.
Those diagnosed with any one of these common infections were three times more likely to die compared to those without any prior infections after developing heart disease. They were also almost twice as likely to die if they had a stroke.
“Our figures suggest that those who are admitted to hospital with a respiratory or urinary tract infection are 40 percent more likely to suffer a subsequent heart attack, and 2.5 times more likely to have a stroke, than patients who have had no such infection – and are considerably less likely to survive from these conditions,” said Potluri in a statement.
Researchers also found that the effects of these common infections were of similar magnitude among those suffering from diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol.
The study was conducted by using 34,027 patients who had been admitted with either a urinary or respiratory tract infection along with an age and sex-matched control group without infection. Other considerable factors that were taken into account were age, gender, ethnicity, obesity, tobacco use, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, heart failure and atrial fibrillation.
Potluri concluded by saying, “It is notable that infection appears to confer as much, if not more, of a risk for future heart disease and stroke as very well established risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes.”