Over recent years , of all of these risk factors , particular focus has been placed on the examination of socioeconomic status and its importance with regard to the impact on incidences of stroke . The majority of the studies examining this factor have tended to use individual - level data from which an inverse correlation is reported between incidences of stroke and socioeconomic status . For example , based upon hospital administration data , with adjustment for risk factors , Hart et al . ( 2000 ) found an inverse association between strokes and categories of deprivation . Additionally , based upon panel data from the US Health and Retirement Study , Avendano and Glymour ( 2008 ) found that both wealth and income were significant contributory factors to incidences of stroke .