Association of smokeless tobacco and cerebrovascular accident: a systematic review and meta-analysis of global data

2024 Guideline for the Primary Prevention of Stroke: A Guideline From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

AIM

The "2024 Guideline for the Primary Prevention of Stroke" replaces the 2014 "Guidelines for the Primary Prevention of Stroke." This updated guideline is intended to be a resource for clinicians to use to guide various prevention strategies for individuals with no history of stroke.

METHODS

A comprehensive search for literature published since the 2014 guideline; derived from research involving human participants published in English; and indexed in MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and other selected and relevant databases was conducted between May and November 2023. Other documents on related subject matter previously published by the American Heart Association were also reviewed.

STRUCTURE

Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes lead to significant disability but, most important, are preventable. The 2024 primary prevention of stroke guideline provides recommendations based on current evidence for strategies to prevent stroke throughout the life span. These recommendations align with the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 for optimizing cardiovascular and brain health, in addition to preventing incident stroke. We also have added sex-specific recommendations for screening and prevention of stroke, which are new compared with the 2014 guideline. Many recommendations for similar risk factor prevention were updated, new topics were reviewed, and recommendations were created when supported by sufficient-quality published data.

Impact of Sex and Gender in Stroke in South and Southeast Asia: A Rapid Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

South Asia and Southeast Asia account for more than 40% of the global stroke burden, with differences in stroke risk factors, mortality, and outcomes compared to high-income countries. Sociocultural norms compound the preexisting biological risk differences, resulting in a disproportionate burden of stroke in women in this region. This review summarizes the sex and gender differences across the stroke care continuum in South Asia and Southeast Asia over the past 20 years.

SUMMARY

Despite a higher incidence of stroke in men than women in South and Southeast Asia, women have greater stroke severity and poorer outcomes after stroke. Higher levels of premorbid disability and poor physical health at baseline may be contributory. There is a high prevalence of vascular risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiac sources of embolism, as well as metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, among the women in this region. Smoking is uncommon among women; however, other forms of smokeless tobacco, such as tobacco leaf and betel nut chewing, are more prevalent, especially in the rural areas in these countries. Women are more likely to have delayed presentations to the hospital due to untimely recognition of stroke symptoms; however, with regards to door-to-needle times or intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) rates, we found equivocal data. Wide gaps exist in stroke awareness and healthcare-seeking behaviors, with women more commonly opting for public hospitals and low-cost wards, more likely to discontinue treatment, and less likely to adhere to poststroke rehabilitation.

KEY FINDINGS

This review exposes the gender lacunae in stroke service provision across South Asia and Southeast Asia while acknowledging the many knowledge gaps in our understanding. Although the biological risk differences are non-modifiable, educational, policy, and economic measures to mitigate sociocultural barriers are much needed in the region. Sound epidemiological data are needed from more countries to better understand these differences and bridge this gap. It is imperative to advocate and implement policies and programs for stroke care viable for women, cognizant of the gender and cost bias, as well as the interplay of social and cultural structures specific to the regions.

Smokeless and combustible tobacco use among 148,944 South Asian adults: a cross-sectional study of South Asia Biobank

INTRODUCTION

Tobacco use, in both smoking and smokeless forms, is highly prevalent among South Asian adults. The aims of the study were twofold: (1) describe patterns of SLT and combustible tobacco product use in four South Asian countries stratified by country and sex, and (2) assess the relationships between SLT and smoking intensity, smoking quit attempts, and smoking cessation among South Asian men.

METHODS

Data were obtained from South Asia Biobank Study, collected between 2018 and 2022 from 148,944 men and women aged 18 years and above, living in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka. Mixed effects multivariable logistic and linear regression were used to quantify the associations of SLT use with quit attempt, cessation, and intensity.

RESULTS

Among the four South Asian countries, Bangladesh has the highest rates of current smoking (39.9% for male, 0.4% for female) and current SLT use (24.7% for male and 23.4% for female). Among male adults, ever SLT use was associated with a higher odds of smoking cessation in Bangladesh (OR, 2.88; 95% CI, 2.65, 3.13), India (OR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.63, 2.50), and Sri Lanka (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.14, 1.62). Ever SLT use and current SLT use was associated with lower smoking intensity in all countries.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large population-based study of South Asian adults, rates of smoking and SLT use vary widely by country and gender. Men who use SLT products are more likely to abstain from smoking compared with those who do not.

The health impact of smokeless tobacco products: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

The objective was to systematically review studies on health outcomes from smokeless tobacco (SLT) products.

METHODS

We analysed published literature on the health outcomes from SLT use between 01/01/2015 to 01/02/2020, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

Of 53 studies included, six were global, 32 from Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA), nine from USA and six from Europe. 'Poor'-rated studies predominated (23;43%), in particular, for global (4;66%) and AMEA (16;50%). Health outcomes differed between SLT-products and regions; those in AMEA were associated with higher mortality (overall, cancer, Coronary heart disease (CHD), respiratory but not cardiovascular disease (CVD)), and morbidity (CVD, oral and head and neck cancers), with odds ratios up to 38.7. European studies showed no excess mortality (overall, CVD, from cancers) or morbidity (ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, oral, head and neck, pancreatic or colon cancers) from several meta-analyses; single studies reported elevated risk of rectal cancer and respiratory disorders. Pooled study data showed protection against developing Parkinson's disease. US studies showed mixed results for mortality (raised overall, CHD, cancer and smoking-related cancer mortality; no excess risk of respiratory or CVD mortality). Morbidity outcomes were also mixed, with some evidence of increased IHD, stroke and cancer risk (oral, head and neck). No studies reported on switching from cigarettes to SLT-products.

CONCLUSION

Our review demonstrates stark differences between different SLT-products in different regions, ranging from zero harm from European snus to greatly increased health risks in AMEA. The literature on the safety profile for SLT-products for harm reduction is incomplete and potentially misinforming policy and regulation.