Risk factors of young ischemic stroke in Qatar

There is limited information about risk factors of young ischemic stroke in Qatar. The aim of this study was to describe the risk factors and subtypes of young ischemic stroke among Qatari and non-Qatari residents. Patients and methods Hospital based prospective observational study involving all young adults (15–45 years of age) admitted to Hamad General Hospital with first-ever ischemic stroke from September 2004 to September 2005. A stroke was defined according to WHO criteria. Results Stroke was confirmed in 40 (32 males and 8 females). Their ages ranged from 17 to 44 years (mean 37.1 ± 13.27). Thirty (75%) of the patients were non-Qatari. The most common risk factors were hypertension 16 (40%), diabetes mellitus 13 (32.5%), hypercholesterolemia 11 (27.5%), smoking 11 (27.5%), and alcohol intake 9 (22.5%). Regarding stroke subtypes, lacunar stroke syndrome (LACS) was diagnosed in 17 (42.5%), total anterior circulation stroke syndrome (TACS) in 16 (40%), partial anterior circulation stroke syndrome (PACS) in 5 (12.5%) and posterior circulation stroke syndrome (POCS) in 2 (5%). Partial anterior circulation stroke syndrome (PACS) was observed with a higher frequency in Qatari patients compared with non-Qataris (p = 0.009), whereas total anterior circulation stroke syndrome (TACS) was observed more in non-Qatari than in Qatari patients (p = 0.03). Average hospital stay was 18 days. In-hospital mortality was 2.5%. Conclusion The risk factors of ischemic stroke in young adults are numerous. The most common were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, smoking and alcohol intake. Only one Indonesian male patient with POCS died in the hospital.