H Tejada Meza1, J Artal Roy2, C Pérez Lázaro3, M Bestué Cardiel2, O Alberti González4, C Tejero Juste3, N Hernando Quintana5, L Jarauta Lahoz5, A Giménez Muñoz6, I Campello Morer6, A Fernández Sanz7, G Cruz Velásquez7, A Latorre Jiménez2, P Vinueza Buitrón3, J A Crespo Burillo8, M Palacín Larroy8, J R Millán García9, E Muñoz Farjas10, J A Oliván Usieto10, L M Clavo Pérez9, J Marta Moreno11. 1. Unidad de Ictus, Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IIS), Aragón, Zaragoza, España. Electronic address: htmeza@gmail.com. 2. Unidad de Ictus, Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España. 3. Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Clínico Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, España. 4. Servicio de Neurología, Hospital San Jorge, Huesca, España. 5. Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Obispo Polanco, Teruel, España. 6. Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Royo Villanova, Zaragoza, España. 7. Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España. 8. Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Ernest Lluch, Calatayud, Zaragoza, España. 9. Servicio de Neurología, Hospital de Barbastro, Barbastro, Huesca, España. 10. Servicio de Neurología, Hospital de Alcañiz, Alcañiz, Teruel, España. 11. Unidad de Ictus, Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IIS), Aragón, Zaragoza, España.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Stroke affects around 15 million people per year, with 10%-15% occurring in individuals under 50 years old (stroke in young adults). The prevalence of different vascular risk factors and healthcare strategies for stroke management vary worldwide, making the epidemiology and specific characteristics of stroke in each region an important area of research. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of different vascular risk factors and the aetiology and characteristics of ischaemic stroke in young adults in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. METHODS: A cross-sectional, multi-centre study was conducted by the neurology departments of all hospitals in the Aragonese Health Service. We identified all patients aged between 18 and 50 years who were admitted to any of these hospitals with a diagnosis of ischaemic stroke or TIA between January 2005 and December 2015. Data were collected on demographic variables, vascular risk factors, and type of stroke, among other variables. RESULTS: During the study period, 786 patients between 18 and 50 years old were admitted with a diagnosis of ischaemic stroke or TIA to any hospital of Aragon, at a mean annual rate of 12.3 per 100 000 population. The median age was 45 years (IQR: 40-48 years). The most prevalent vascular risk factor was tobacco use, in 404 patients (51.4%). The majority of strokes were of undetermined cause (36.2%), followed by other causes (26.5%). The median NIHSS score was 3.5 (IQR: 2.0-7.0). In total, 211 patients (26.8%) presented TIA. Fifty-nine per cent of the patients admitted with a diagnosis of ischaemic stroke (10.3%) were treated with fibrinolysis. CONCLUSIONS: Ischaemic stroke in young adults is not uncommon in Aragon, and is of undetermined aetiology in a considerable number of cases; it is therefore necessary to implement measures to improve study of the condition, to reduce its incidence, and to prevent its recurrence.
INTRODUCTION:Stroke affects around 15 million people per year, with 10%-15% occurring in individuals under 50 years old (stroke in young adults). The prevalence of different vascular risk factors and healthcare strategies for stroke management vary worldwide, making the epidemiology and specific characteristics of stroke in each region an important area of research. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of different vascular risk factors and the aetiology and characteristics of ischaemic stroke in young adults in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. METHODS: A cross-sectional, multi-centre study was conducted by the neurology departments of all hospitals in the Aragonese Health Service. We identified all patients aged between 18 and 50 years who were admitted to any of these hospitals with a diagnosis of ischaemic stroke or TIA between January 2005 and December 2015. Data were collected on demographic variables, vascular risk factors, and type of stroke, among other variables. RESULTS: During the study period, 786 patients between 18 and 50 years old were admitted with a diagnosis of ischaemic stroke or TIA to any hospital of Aragon, at a mean annual rate of 12.3 per 100 000 population. The median age was 45 years (IQR: 40-48 years). The most prevalent vascular risk factor was tobacco use, in 404 patients (51.4%). The majority of strokes were of undetermined cause (36.2%), followed by other causes (26.5%). The median NIHSS score was 3.5 (IQR: 2.0-7.0). In total, 211 patients (26.8%) presented TIA. Fifty-nine per cent of the patients admitted with a diagnosis of ischaemic stroke (10.3%) were treated with fibrinolysis. CONCLUSIONS:Ischaemic stroke in young adults is not uncommon in Aragon, and is of undetermined aetiology in a considerable number of cases; it is therefore necessary to implement measures to improve study of the condition, to reduce its incidence, and to prevent its recurrence.