Ischemic stroke in young adults: Risk factors, etiology, and outcome

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the etiologies, risk factors, and poststroke functional status in young patients with ischemic stroke. Patients and methods: The data of 89 patients (49 males, 40 females; mean age: 43.0±8.6 years; range, 20 to 55 years) diagnosed with ischemic stroke were retrospectively analyzed between January 2016 and May 2019. Results: The majority of the patients (62.9%) were found to have modifiable risk factors before stroke, and these risk factors were associated with age and sex, but more than half of the patients (58.4%) had a stroke subtype of stroke of undetermined cause. Although early symptoms and long-term functional status of the subjects did not differ by stroke subtype, the subjects in this study had a milder course and better outcomes than the general population with stroke. Conclusion: These results indicate the critical importance of accurate determination of risk factors and treating the underlying causes for the short- and long-term management of stroke in young adults.