Stroke in Individuals Less than 45 Years of Age: A Prospective Study

To assess clinical features, risk factors and etiology of stroke in individual’s age group of 15-45 years. Stroke is the most common life-threatening neurological disease which causes disability and morbidity. All young patients in the age group of 15-45 years admitted to Kasturba hospital, Manipal with ischaemic strokes (based on CT or MRI Brain scan) from October 2018 to June 2020 were recruited in this prospective study after obtaining prior informed consent. Each patient was examined in detail and evaluated according to common proforma. Of 332 total ischaemic stroke patients admitted during the study period, 74 had stroke in young with smoking (40.5%), hypertension (33.8%), diabetes (17.6%) and existing heart disease (14.8%) were found to be the most common risk factors involved. Aetiology of young stroke patients in the present study could be identified in 46 (62.1%) of patients and no cause was found in 28 (37.8%). As majority constitutes modifiable risk factors, there is significant scope for primary and secondary prevention of ischaemic stroke in the young and a sincere attempt should be made to identify the risk factors and etiology in such cases.