A retrospective study of stroke in young adults from tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Multiple etiologies are responsible for cases of stroke in young adults. This 2 years retrospective study comprises the causes of types of stroke (ischemic, intracerebral hemorrhage and embolism) in young adults aged 15 to 45 years, admitted to our tertiary care center from October 2011 to September 2013. The Aim and objective of the study was to determine the relative frequency of causes of stroke in young adults. There were 72 cases identified. Thirty cases of ischemic stroke (41.6%), 26 cases of intracerebral hemorrhage (36.1%) and embolism in 22.2% were identified. The leading cause of ischemic stroke was atherosclerosis in 18 cases (60%). Among cardiac causes infarction was attributable to consequences of rheumatic heart disease in 5 cases. In 3 cases a cessation or decrease in dose of warfarin was followed directly by an ischemic stroke. The most leading cause of intracerebral hemorrhage was hypertension (42%). Other causes were anticoagulant therapy, intratumoral hemorrhage, leukemia, and arteriovenous malformations. In conclusion it can be said that cardioembolism and hypertension were the most leading causes of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in young adults admitted in our hospital.