The diagnostic tests and functional outcomes of acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack in young adults: A 4-year hospital-based observational study

Abstract

Background and objectives Ischemic strokes in young adults have been a significant concern due to various potential etiologies and had substantial clinical and public health impacts. We aimed to study the diagnostic tests, etiologies, and functional outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in young adult patients. Methods The data were retrieved from the Chiang Mai University Hospital Stroke Registry between January 2018 and December 2021. Consecutive AIS or TIA patients were included if they were 18–50 years and had no stroke mimics. Study outcomes were proportions of positive diagnostic tests, and 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results Of 244 enrolled patients, 59.0% (n = 144) were male, and 38.1% (n = 93) were aged 18–40, classified as the younger age group. There was a high incidence of diabetes (24.5%) and dyslipidemia (54.3%) among patients aged 41–50, associated with small-vessel occlusion and large-artery atherosclerosis stroke classification in this age group. Patients aged 18–40 years had more other determined etiologies (39.8%), with hypercoagulability (8.2%), arterial dissection (7.8%), and cardiac sources (6.6%) being the first three causes, which were associated with higher anticoagulant treatment. The cerebrovascular study, cardiac evaluation using echocardiography, and antiphospholipid syndrome testing were commonly performed, of which computed tomography angiography provided a high proportion of positive results (80.3%). 76.3% of young adult patients had excellent functional outcomes (mRS 0–1) with a median mRS of 0 (interquartile range 0–1) at 90-day follow-up. Conclusions Stroke of other determined etiology remained the common cause of stroke in young adults, and most affected individuals had excellent clinical outcomes. Blood tests for arterial hypercoagulability and noninvasive vascular and cardiac evaluations are encouraged in selected patients to determine the stroke etiology and guide for appropriate preventive strategies.