Risk Factors of Transient Ischemic Attack in Young Adults in Pakistan

Transient ischemic attacks precede about 20%-25% of ischemic stroke. These symptoms normally range from a few seconds to several minutes, with a typical duration of less than one hour. Objective: To assess the risk factors of transient ischemic attack in young adults. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at the People's University of Medical and Health Sciences Hospital, Nawabshah. Patients with stroke admitted to Medical Units I, II, and III from November 2021 to June 2023 were eligible for inclusion. This study eliminated those who were under the age of 18, those who had experienced brain injury, and those who were above the age of 45. The current study included 209 patients, including both male and female participants aged between 18 and 45 years, who exhibited various forms of stroke. For this study, only 14 (6.7%) patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) were selected. Data on diagnostic tests, medical records, laboratory investigations, and radiological images were obtained for data collection. Results: The most prevalent risk factor was diabetes mellitus in nine (64.3%) patients. Seven (50.0%) patients had hypertension. Cardiac disease was seen in six (42.9%) of patients. Smoking and previous stroke history were observed in one (7.1%) patient each. Conclusions: The results of this research suggested that diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and heart problems are the predominant risk factors associated with transient ischemic stroke in young individuals.