Stroke in young adults: a prospective study of 58 patients
Keywords:
stroke, young adult, epidemiologyAbstract
Introduction and aims: Stroke in young adults is less frequent
and has a wider variety of causes, requiring more extensive
investigation. Our aim was to evaluate the demographics, stroke
type, risk factors, outcome and mortality in patients younger than 60 years.
Methods: Prospective study lasting 2 years (2002- 2003) of all
patients aged under 60, admitted with stroke, to our department.
Patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage were excluded. The
study protocol included history, physical examination, computed
tomography (CT), ECG, transthoracic cardiac ultrasound, carotid
Doppler, blood analysis for pro-clotting and atherogenic factors
and a 6-month follow-up. Other studies were performed when deemed necessary.
Results: We studied 58 patients, 30 women (51.7%) and 28
men (48.3%) aged 32 to 60 (mean age 51.9±6,3). The majority
(77.6%) had ischaemic stroke, 20% had haemorrhagic stroke
and one patient had thrombosis of the venous sinus. The main
risk factors for ischaemic stroke were hypertension (66.7%) and
hyperlipidemia (64.4%); and for hemorrhagic stroke hypertension
(75%) and alcoholism (58.3%). The overall mortality was 13.8%.
Only 43.1% of all patients recovered without sequelae.
Conclusions: Besides age, the classic risk factors for atherosclerosis were the main risk factors identifiable, although
alcoholism was the second risk factor for haemorrhagic stroke.
The high percentage of mortality and disability associated with
stroke underlines the absolute need to control these risk factors in the population.
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