Makki K U, Pyar Ali Fazel, Hussain Haroon, Illahi Bakhsh Soomro.
Risk factors and outcome in 114 young stroke patients.
Med Channel Jan ;12(4):52-5.

OBJECTIVE: Incidence of young stroke is increasing world wide and it is important to identify the precipitating factors for prevention of stroke. This study was conducted to identify the risk factors and outcome of stroke in young patients who were admitted to Civil Hospital Karachi. DESIGN: It is a descriptive correlational study. SETTING: The young stroke patients who were admitted in neurology and all medical units of Civil Hospital Karachi from 2003 to 2005 were evaluated for the factors responsible for stroke and their outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 114 young stroke patients were included in this study who were clinically diagnosed as a case of stroke and their lesions were confirmed through CT/MRI of brain .Non-stroke lesions presented as motor neurological deficit were excluded. Detailed clinical history, comprehensive neurological examination, CT/MRI of brain and in certain cases conventional cerebral angiography was done. RESULTS: The sample contained 79 males and 35 females. Hypertension was the most common risk factor: The other risk factors were smoking, hyperlipidemia and family history of stroke. Cerebral infarction was diagnosed in 78(68.4%) patients and intracerebral hemorrhage/sub-arachnoid hemorrhage was seen in 36 (31.6%). Small vessel occlusion was common than large artery atherosclerosis. Hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage was the most common sub-type of intra cerebral hemorrhage. 47.3% patients were discharged as independent, 31.6% as dependent and 21.1% died. CONCLUSION: The frequency of hypertension and hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage suggests accelerated hypertensive arteriolar damage, possibly due to poor control of hypertension. The causes of stroke among young adults are more diverse than in the elderly and require a thorough diagnostic work up for further prevention of stroke.

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