Claudian's Corner

Men who are single or not happy in their marriage are at an increased risk of suffering a fatal stroke in later decades of their life, reports a new study.

New research of more than 10,000 men, carried out by Dr. Uri Goldbourt, a professor of epidemiology and preventive medicine at Tel Aviv University in Israel, came to the conclusion that those in loveless marriages were 64 per cent more likely to die from a stroke over the next thirty years, when compared to their happily married counterparts.

The study based their findings on an analysis of questionnaires that were filled out in 1963 by men who took part in the Israeli Ischemic Heart Disease Study. The participants, whose average age was 49 years, were asked to rate how successful their marriage was. The experts then looked at those who suffered fatal strokes during the following 34 years, through 1997, and compared it with the information provided in questionnaires.

The statistical analysis took into consideration the participants' socioeconomic status and major stroke risk factors, such as extra weight, hypertension, and smoking habits. The experts also took into consideration whether the men had diabetes and cardiovascular issues at the start of the study. After accounting for all these factors, a striking link was found between the risk of developing fatal stroke and marital status.

According to the findings, a total of 8.4 per cent of men who were not married in 1963 - whether never married, divorced, or widowed - suffered fatal stroke in the subsequent three decades. This to compare with 7.1 per cent of the married men. The investigators revealed that single men, and those in loveless marriages, were 64 per cent more likely to die from stroke than men who had happy marital bliss. Dr. Goldbout said that even he and his colleagues were surprised by the results saying: "I had not expected that unsuccessful marriage would be of this statistical importance."

However, the scientist stressed that his study had some limitations. For example, there was not enough information to tell whether strokes suffered by the survey participants were fatal or non-fatal. Despite the marked association between happy marriage and overall well being, experts have noted that leading a healthy lifestyle with a good diet and regular exercise is key to reducing the risk if stroke.

Researchers say that the same associations are also expected for women. However, there could be some differences and new studies are needed in order to confirm whether there is a correlation between the fatal stroke in women and their relationships.

The findings were presented at the 2010 International Stroke Conference of American Stroke Association.