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Table 2 Perception of stroke warning signs and risk factors in the community-dwelling older population in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland**.

From: Stroke awareness in the general population: knowledge of stroke risk factors and warning signs in older adults

Responses

Overall sample (n = 2, 033) %(N)

Republic of Ireland (n = 1,033) %(N)

Northern Ireland (n = 1,000) %(N)

Difference between regions (χ2)

Warning signs

    

- Slurred speech *

54% (1,102)

54% (569)

53% (533)

p = 0.93, NS

- Dizziness*

44% (894)

51% (532)

36% (361)

p < 0.0001

- Numbness (any)*

41% (832)

45% (472)

36% (360)

p = 0.0001

- Weakness (any) *

38% (790)

36% (374)

41% (414)

p < 0.01

- Headache*

29% (600)

30% (316)

28% (284)

p = 0.53, NS

- Vision problems*

20% (410)

22% (230)

18% (180)

p < 0.05

- Difficulty understanding

18% (369)

22% (230)

14% (139)

p < 0.0001

No response/don't know

13% (255)

7% (74)

18% (181)

p < 0.0001

Risk factors

    

- Hypertension*

75% (1,523)

75% (786)

75% (737)

p = 0.91, NS

- Stress

43% (888)

43% (450)

44% (436)

p = 0.6, NS

- Cholesterol*

40% (823)

45% (471)

35% (353)

p < 0.0001

- Smoking*

30% (621)

29% (300)

32% (320)

p = 0.07, NS

- Obesity

30% (608)

26% (273)

33% (334)

p = 0.0001

- Lack of exercise

18% (363)

19% (198)

17% (165)

p = 0.22, NS

- Family history of stroke

16% (333)

22% (227)

10% (103)

p < 0.0001

- Diabetes*

11% (217)

12% (124)

9% (92)

p = 0.08, NS

- Alcohol use*

10% (201)

9% (93)

11% (108)

p = 0.14, NS

- No response/don't know

6% (124)

4% (48)

8% (76)

p < 0.01

  1. Note: Only factors where at least 5% indicated relevance are listed. Data represents up to 3 responses per participants and those include responses that have not been established by the medical community as stroke warning signs or stroke risk factors
  2. * Established warning sign/risk factor
  3. ** Weighted data