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Published on: February 22, 2020

Young ischaemic stroke in South Auckland: a hospital-based study

Teddy Y Wu1, Ajay Kumar, Edward H Wong

  • 1Department of Medicine, Middlemore Hospital, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand.

The New Zealand Medical Journal
|December 18, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Young adults in South Auckland experience strokes primarily due to undetermined causes or cardioembolism. Māori and Pacific Island populations show a disproportionately higher stroke incidence.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Stroke incidence in young adults (15-45 years) is a significant concern.
  • Understanding stroke aetiology and risk factors in this demographic is crucial for targeted prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze risk factors, incidence trends, and causes of stroke in young adults.
  • To investigate stroke aetiology in a hospital-based population in South Auckland, New Zealand.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of ischaemic stroke patients aged 15-45 years (June 2004 - December 2009).
  • Data collected included vascular risk factors, demographics, stroke severity, subtype, investigations, and outcomes.
  • Discharge diagnoses utilized ICD 10 codes for ischaemic stroke.

Main Results:

  • 131 patients identified (4.6% of all stroke discharges).
  • Over half of strokes were of undetermined cause (Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment [TOAST] criteria), mainly due to incomplete investigation.
  • Cardioembolism (16%) was the second most common cause, followed by small vessel disease (12.2%).
  • Most common risk factors: hyperlipidaemia (45.8%), hypertension (42.7%), smoking (42.7%), obesity (36.6%).
  • Māori and Pacific Island people had at least double the stroke rate of other ethnicities.
  • In-hospital fatality rate was 3.1%; 86% of survivors were independent.

Conclusions:

  • Strokes of undetermined aetiology and cardioembolism are the most frequent causes in young adults in South Auckland.
  • Māori and Pacific Island populations exhibit a higher stroke rate, highlighting health disparities.
Abstract

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