Teens/Young Adults Have Increase in Stroke Prevalence

Ischemic stroke hospitalization rates in adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 44 increased up to 37 percent between 1995 and 2008, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The findings, which are available in Annals of Neurology, report an increase in the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, lipid disorders and tobacco use among this age group during the 14-year study period.

CDC researchers used hospital discharge data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project to identify patients hospitalized for ischemic stroke, as well as stroke risk factors and comorbidities among those hospitalized with stroke. Of the patients hospitalized for ischemic stroke, the study found that nearly one in three patients ages 15 to 34 years and more than half ages 35 to 44 years also were diagnosed with hypertension. One-fourth of patients ages 35 to 44 years also had diabetes. One in four females ages 15 to 34, one in three females ages 35 to 44 and one in three males ages 15 to 44 were tobacco users. Other common co-existing conditions included obesity and lipid disorders.