Risk Factors Associated with Stroke in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Stroke in young adults (n=100). Intervention: Current smoking (and modifiable vascular risk factors) vs. Non-smokers / absence of specific vascular risk factors. Primary outcome: Ischemic stroke vs hemorrhagic stroke subtype (OR 7.15, 95% CI 1.55–32.98, p=0.012).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Current smoking and dyslipidemia significantly predict ischemic compared to hemorrhagic stroke among young adults in Bangladesh, with 92% of young stroke patients exhibiting multiple vascular risk factors. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.SUPPORTS_CONSENSUS.

Md Mushfiq Murtaza; Antara Saha

doi:10.3329/bmj.v55i1.93119

October 26, 2026Bangladesh Medical JournalOpen Access

Risk Factors Associated with Stroke in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh

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Key result

Current smoking linked to ~7.2-fold higher odds of ischemic over hemorrhagic stroke in young adults.

OR 7.15
95% CI 1.55–32.98
P=0.012
n=100

Why the study?

Stroke in young adults is an emerging health challenge in low and middle income countries, and identifying associated risk factors is essential for developing effective prevention strategies in Bangladesh.

Key Points

To determine the vascular risk factors and sociodemographic characteristics associated with stroke subtypes among young adults admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh.
Hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted among 100 consecutive stroke patients aged 18-50 years admitted to Jahurul Islam Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh, between September 2020 and February 2021.
Stroke diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and vascular risk factors were evaluated using structured questionnaires, clinical assessments, Pearson's χ² tests, and logistic regression analysis.
Ischemic stroke occurred in 81% of patients and hemorrhagic stroke in 19%; multiple risk-factor clustering (≥2 risk factors) was present in 92.0% of patients and was significantly associated with stroke subtype (p=0.001).
The most common risk factors were hypertension (64.0%; 84.2% in hemorrhagic vs 59.3% in ischemic; p=0.041), diabetes mellitus (45.0%; p=0.191), current smoking (39.0%; 45.7% in ischemic vs 10.5% in hemorrhagic; p=0.014), and dyslipidemia (38.0%; 43.2% in ischemic vs 15.8% in hemorrhagic; p=0.027).
Logistic regression identified current smoking (OR 7.15, 95% CI 1.55–32.98, p=0.012) and dyslipidemia (OR 4.06, 95% CI 1.10–15.03, p=0.034) as significant predictors of ischemic stroke, whereas hypertension showed a trend toward association with hemorrhagic stroke (OR 3.68, 95% CI 0.99–13.60, p=0.052).

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=100)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

P

Population

100 hospitalized young adults (mean age 42.09 years, 26% female) aged 18-50 years with neuroimaging-confirmed ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke at a tertiary hospital in Bangladesh.

O

Outcome

Stroke subtype, classified as ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke based on neuroimaging findings (CT/MRI)hard clinical

Main Result

Odds Ratio: 7.15 (95% CI 1.55–32.98)

Absolute Event Rate: 45.7% vs 10.5%

p-value: p=0.012

Young adult stroke in Bangladesh is predominantly ischemic (81%) and strongly driven by clustering of modifiable vascular risk factors (92% having ≥2 risk factors), with smoking and dyslipidemia independently predicting ischemic stroke and hypertension tending toward hemorrhagic stroke.

Limitations

Hospital-based cross-sectional design and relatively small sample size (n=100) limit generalizability
Cross-sectional nature prevents establishing causal relationships between risk factors and stroke occurrence
Potential recall bias from patient interviews regarding lifestyle and socioeconomic variables
Residual confounding from unmeasured factors such as diet, physical activity, genetics, and environmental exposures
Hospital-based cross-sectional design and relatively small sample size (n=100) may limit generalizability to the broader young adult population of Bangladesh.
Cross-sectional nature prevents establishing causal relationships between risk factors and stroke occurrence.
Some lifestyle and socioeconomic variables were collected through patient interviews and may be affected by recall bias.
Residual confounding from unmeasured factors such as diet, physical activity, genetic predisposition, and environmental exposures could not be completely excluded.

Implication

Smoking and dyslipidemia were associated with ischemic stroke in young Bangladeshi adults; leaves open causality and generalizability to other populations.

Abstract

Stroke in young adults represents an important emerging health challenge, particularly in low and middle income countries where modifiable vascular risk factors are increasingly prevalent. Identification of associated risk factors among young stroke patients is essential for developing effective prevention strategies. This study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with stroke among young adults admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh. This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 consecutive stroke patients aged 18-50 years admitted to the Department of Medicine, Jahurul Islam Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh, from September 2020 to February 2021. Stroke diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical profiles, vascular risk factors, and lifestyle related factors were assessed using a structured questionnaire and clinical evaluation. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. Associations between stroke subtype and risk factors were evaluated using Pearson’s χ² test, and logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. The mean age of participants was 42.09±7.14 years. Most patients belonged to the 36-50-year age group (88%), and males predominated (74%; male to female ratio 2.85:1). Most participants were married (96%), had low educational attainment (68% had no formal education or education below secondary level), and belonged to lower-income groups (74% had monthly family income ≤20,000 BDT). Ischemic stroke accounted for 81% of cases, while hemorrhagic stroke accounted for 19%. The most prevalent risk factor was hypertension (64%), followed by diabetes mellitus (45%), current smoking (39%), and dyslipidemia (38%). Multiple risk-factor clustering (≥2 risk factors) was observed in 92% of patients and was significantly associated with stroke subtype (p=0.001). Hypertension (p=0.041), dyslipidemia (p=0.027), and current smoking (p=0.014) were significantly associated with stroke subtype. Logistic regression demonstrated that smoking (OR 7.15, p=0.012) and dyslipidemia (OR 4.06, p=0.034) were significant predictors of ischemic stroke, whereas hypertension showed a tendency toward association with hemorrhagic stroke (OR 3.68, p=0.052). Young adult stroke in this study was strongly associated with modifiable vascular risk factors, particularly hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia, and clustering of multiple risk factors. Early identification and management of these factors are essential for reducing stroke burden among young adults in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Med J. 2026 Jan; 55(1): 39-47

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Murtaza et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Stroke in young adults (n=100). Current smoking (and modifiable vascular risk factors) vs. Non-smokers / absence of specific vascular risk factors was evaluated on Ischemic stroke vs hemorrhagic stroke subtype (OR 7.15, 95% CI 1.55–32.98, p=0.012). Current smoking (OR 7.15, p=0.012) and dyslipidemia (OR 4.06, p=0.034) significantly predicted ischemic over hemorrhagic stroke among young Bangladeshi adults, with 92% having ≥2 risk factors.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6ae13cd1043bfbd63533263a https://doi.org/10.3329/bmj.v55i1.93119

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Risk Factors Associated with Stroke in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Risk Factors Associated with Stroke in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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