Stroke Rate Increases Among Young Adults

Friday, February 26, 2010, 13:24

There is a growing concern over increasing number of strokes among younger adults.

Data from Ohio and Kentucky showed that more young people were having strokes while the number was decreasing among older people.

In a study led by Brett M. Kissela, Associate Professor of the Neurology Residency Program at the University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Institute, found that the average age of stroke patients in 2005 was nearly three years younger than the average age of stroke patients in 1993–1994.

From 1995 to 2005, there was an increase of people having stroke by 7.3 per cent.

“This is scary and very concerning. What was shocking was the proportion of patients under age 45. The proportion is up, the incidence rate is up," says Kissela.

The increased prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and obesity could be a possible explanation for such an alarming trend.