Selected factors and stroke in young adults, 15-40 years of age.

Abstract

HOSPITAL-BASED case-control study was conducted to determine the degree of association between cigarette smoking, alcohol use, drug use, and prior medical disorders and the development of stroke in young adults, 15-40 years of age. Cases consisted of 80 patients with a discharge diagnosis of stroke, excluding subarachnoid hemorrhage and transient cerebral ischemia, admitted to one of four community hospitals in northern Illinois between 1975 and 1983. Controls included 321 injury patients matched to cases by hospital and year of admission. The proportion of drug users and those with a history of medical disorders was significantly higher in cases than controls. Cigarette smoking and alcohol use did not appear to be risk factors for stroke, although the risk was obscured by the apparent association of these factors with injuries in the control group. Had community controls been selected it is possible that positive associations may have been found.