Study Reports Rise in Ischemic Stroke Hospitalization Rates among Youth

Ischemic stroke hospitalization rates among adolescents and young adults aged 15-44 went up 37% between 1995 and 2008. Hypertension, diabetes, obesity, lipid disorders and tobacco use increased as well, according to a new study.

The study, which took place over 14 years, was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The findings were published in Annals of Neurology, a journal of the American Neurological Association and the Child Neurology Society.

Researchers analyzed risk factors and comorbidities in patients admitted for stokes with discharge data made available from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. The study found a “significant increase in trends in ischemic stroke hospitalizations among adolescents and young adults.”