Ischemic stroke in young adults in Bogota, Colombia: a cross-sectional study

Background: There has been an increase in the incidence of ischemic stroke in young adults. It is believed that it is due to the increase in traditional cardiovascular risk factors. This change has affected the quality of life of young adults. Aims: To describe the most common etiologies and risk factors in patients aged ≤ 50 who had ischemic stroke between 2011 and 2018. Methodology: A cross-sectional study of patients under 50 years who had ischemic stroke between 2011 and 2018 who were evaluated at a comprehensive center in Bogotá, Colombia. We carried out a descriptive analysis of comorbidities, the Trial of Org for Acute Stroke (TOAST), the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results: A total of 152 patients were included, out of which 50.66% were men. The most frequent traditional risk factors were smoking history (19%), history of high blood pressure (18%), presence of cardiovascular disease (17%), and history of migraine (15%). The most common etiological subgroups were those classified as “other determined etiologies” (33.5%) and “undetermined etiology” (33.5%), while the most common etiology was carotid or vertebral artery dissection (23%). Conclusion: This study demonstrates the need to make a deep evaluation of the past medical history, laboratory tests, and new risk factors in young adults. On the other hand, modifiable cardiovascular risk factors top the list, showing the need to implement health promotion strategies for young adults.