Introduction: The incidence of stroke has decreased in Sweden as well as in most developed countries, but a high number of migrants have arrived in Sweden, during the last decades, which may have influenced the incidence. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of stroke in women, born outside as well as in Sweden. Furthermore, the aim was to examine how socio-economic factors, smoking, and physical activity could modify the risk for stroke. Method: Data from the “MalmöDiet and Cancer Study” was used for the analysis. In total, 16,857 women were included (14,849 of them born in and 2,008 born outside Sweden), aged 45 - 73 years with a mean age of 57.4 years. Result. A significantly increased relative risk (RR) was found for the incidence of stroke for current smokers in both Swedish-born and migrant women. In Swedish-born women the RR was 1.98 (CI: 1.66 - 2.36) and for migrant women the RR was 1.83(CI: 1.13 - 2.96). The adjusted relative risk for the incidence of stroke in Swedish-born women performing moderate/high physical activity was RR 0.71 (CI: 0.61 - 0.84) and for migrant women it was RR 0.77 (CI: 0.49 - 1.20). The relative risk in relation to low socio-economic circumstances (SES) was significant only for Swedish-born women (RR 0.85 [CI: 0.73 - 0.99]). Among currently smoking Swedish-born women with a low SES the RR was 1.27 (CI: 1.03 - 1.57) in comparison with smoking migrant women, whose RR was 1.68 (CI: 0.92 - 3.09). Conclusion: No differences were found indicating that migrant women in this population had a higher risk as compared to Swedish-born women. However, migrant smoking women were more vulnerable to stroke compared to Swedish-born women. Physical activity was effective in reducing the risk of stroke among the total population and especially in the Swedish-born women. To increase physical activity in middle-aged women, in both migrant and Swedish-born women, is a highly recommended public health strategy.
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