STUDY OF CLINICAL PROFILE AND RISK FACTORS FOR ISCHEMIC STROKE IN YOUNG ADULTS

Background: Stroke in young adults has become a rising concern in developing countries as it leads to large economic impact by causing disability in the most economically productive years. Although stroke is uncommon in young age group, we are facing patients with ischemic stroke in young adults in daily practice. Objective: To study the clinical profile and risk factors for ischemic stroke in young adults (15-49 years). Method: It is a prospective study in which patients with ischemic stroke fulfilling the inclusion criteria were evaluated for risk factors and clinical profile was assessed. Results: In this study 73 patients with ischemic stroke between 15-49 years were evaluated. Most of the patients were male (63%). The most common risk factors were dyslipidemia (67.1%), metabolic syndrome (64.3%), hyperhomocysteinemia (58.9%), smoking (52%) and hypertension (44.2%). Patients were further divided into two age groups (16-32 years and 33-49 years) for comparison. Metabolic syndrome and hypertension were significantly more frequent in age group of 33-49 years with p value of <0.05 but we could not find difference between two age groups for rest of the risk factors. Conclusion: Most of these are traditional risk factors which were previously seen in older age group, but now we are encountering these risk factors in younger age group also. As most of them are modifiable risk factors health education regarding lifestyle modification, health programs for preventing and treating these risk factors should be started to reduce the mortality and morbidity of stroke among socioeconomically active age group.