English

Abstract

Stroke is defined as rapid onset focal neurological deficit resulting from disease of cerebral vasculature and its contents. Although classically a disease of elderly population stroke occurs in younger age group also. Stroke in young is infrequent in the west. On the contrary, Indian data gives a higher incidence of 18 to 30 percent. This study aims to evaluate the clinical profile and etiological factors leading to stroke in thirty patients in the age group 15 to 45 years admitted to Medical College, Calicut during May 2000 to April 2001. A detailed history and examination findings were recorded. All patients were subjected to CT brain. The data were collected as per Performa and analyzed. Incidence of stroke in young was 18.5 percent of total stroke patients and incidence of CVA patients admitted was 1.25 percent of the total medical admissions; both were in range as in most of Indian studies. Males and females were in the ratio 2:1 which was similar to majority of Indian studies. 80% cases were thrombotic stroke, rest 20% hemorrhagic and cortical venous thrombosis. Etiological factors were detected in 43.4 percent of cases. Rheumatic heart disease with atrial fibrillation was the major etiological cause for embolic stroke. Incidence of stroke related to pregnancy was less compared to other Indian studies. Risk Factors were detected in 63.3 percent patients which was significant in contributing to the etiology of stroke in young. Smoking and diabetes mellitus formed the most important risk factors in the study followed by untreated hypertension and dyslipidemia.