Abstract Background and aims Stroke in young adults represents a growing public health challenge with distinct etiological and clinical characteristics. The aim of this study was to characterize the epidemiology and functional outcomes of stroke in young adults in the Republic of Moldova using data from the RES-Q registry. Methods We conducted a comparative analysis of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke subtypes among young adults in the Republic of Moldova, using national RES-Q data and cases managed at the comprehensive stroke center (CSC) during the period 1 January 2024 to 31 October 2025. Young age was defined as ≤ 50 years at the time of stroke onset. Results The proportion of young patients was 5.4% at the national level and 6.8% at the comprehensive stroke center. Ischemic stroke was the predominant subtype (57% nationally; 54% at CSC), followed by intracerebral hemorrhage (26% at both the national and local levels) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (11% nationally, 18% at CSC). Mean age ranged from 42.0 to 44.9 years. Median NIHSS scores were 7 for ischemic stroke, 12 for intracerebral hemorrhage. Median onset-to-door time was shorter at CSC for ischemic stroke (150 vs. 277.5 minutes) and intracerebral hemorrhage (95 vs. 150 minutes). In-hospital mortality was highest for intracerebral hemorrhage (28–34%), compared with ischemic stroke (6%) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (11–12%). Conclusions Stroke subtypes in young adults show distinct severity profiles and outcomes, underscoring the importance of timely access to specialized stroke care and subtype-specific management strategies. Conflict of interest Ciobanu Natalia nothing to disclose
Groppa et al. (2026) studied this question.