COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF RISK FACTORS IN YOUNG AND MIDDLE-AGE PATIENTS WITH ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE

Background: Ischemic stroke ( IS) in young adults has different etiologies and risk factors (RF). A better understanding of the contribution of potentially modifiable RF to the global burden of IS in young adults is crucial for successful prevention strategies. Objective: To evaluate the incidence and prevalence of different RF in young and middle-age acute IS patients. Material and Methods: In the study were included 63 patients with acute IS, admitted to the Neurology Clinic Pleven. They were classified in two groups: Group A (n=10) of young (18-44 y) and Group B (n=53) of middle-age (4559 y) IS patients. Comparative evaluation of the following RF: age, sex, family history of stroke, arterial hypertension (AH), smoking, dyslipidemia, alcohol consumption, low physical activity, obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) was done. The statistical analysis was performed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 24.0 (SPSS). Results: Out of the 63 patients, 42 (66,7%) were males and 53 (84,1%) were 45-59 years old. No gender difference was found in group A, while in Group B, the prevalence of male patients (69,8%) was found, though statistically not significant (p=0.223). A first-degree family history of stroke had 30 ( 93.8%) of the middle- aged IS patients, as compared to only 2 of the young ones (6,3%), which was statistically significant (p=0.034). Group B showed prevalence of smoking (82,2%), alcohol consumption (83%), body overweight (90,5%), low physical activity (80%), AH (87,3%) and DM (87,3%). Conclusion: The higher incidence of some RF in middle-age acute IS patients indicates that early identification and control of the RF is the best strategy for reducing stroke mortality and morbidity.