Risk Factors and Causes of Ischemic Stroke in 1322 Young Adults.

BACKGROUND: Identification of risk factors and causes of stroke is key to optimize treatment and prevent recurrence. Up to one-third of young patients with stroke have a cryptogenic stroke according to current classification systems (Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment [TOAST] and atherosclerosis, small vessel disease, cardiac pathology, other causes, dissection [ASCOD]). The aim was to identify risk factors and leads for (new) causes of cryptogenic ischemic stroke in young adults, using the pediatric classification system from the IPSS study (International Pediatric Stroke Study). METHODS: This is a multicenter prospective cohort study conducted in 17 hospitals in the Netherlands, consisting of 1322 patients aged 18 to 49 years with first-ever, imaging confirmed, ischemic stroke between 2013 and 2021. The main outcome was distribution of risk factors according to IPSS classification in patients with cryptogenic and noncryptogenic stroke according to the TOAST and ASCOD classification. RESULTS: The median age was 44.2 years, and 697 (52.7%) were men. Of these 1322 patients, 333 (25.2%) had a cryptogenic stroke according to the TOAST classification. Additional classification using the ASCOD criteria reduced the number patients with cryptogenic stroke from 333 to 260 (19.7%). When risk factors according to the IPSS were taken into account, the number of patients with no potential cause or risk factor for stroke reduced to 10 (0.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Among young adults aged 18 to 49 years with a cryptogenic ischemic stroke according to the TOAST classification, risk factors for stroke are highly prevalent. Using a pediatric classification system provides new leads for the possible causes in cryptogenic stroke, and could potentially lead to more tailored treatment for young individuals with stroke.

Incidence of oral anticoagulant-associated intracerebral hemorrhage in the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to estimate the annual adult incidence and risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and oral anticoagulant-associated ICH (OAC-ICH) in the Netherlands. METHODS: We retrospectively selected all consecutive adult patients with a nontraumatic ICH seen in 1 of 3 hospitals in the region South-Limburg, the Netherlands, from 2007 to 2009. Crude incidences were age-adjusted to Dutch and European population. RESULTS: We identified 652 ICH cases, of which 168 (25.8%) were OAC associated. The adult Dutch age-adjusted annual incidence of ICH and OAC-ICH was 34.8 (95% confidence interval, 32.0-37.8) and 8.7 (95% confidence interval, 7.3-10.3) per 100 000 person-years, respectively. The absolute risk of OAC-ICH was estimated at 0.46% per patient-year of OAC treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The annual incidences of ICH and OAC-ICH are relatively high in the Netherlands when compared with international literature.

Short-Term and Long-Term Risk of Recurrent Vascular Event by Cause After Ischemic Stroke in Young Adults.

Importance: Cause of ischemic stroke in young people is highly variable; however, the risk of recurrence is often presented with all subtypes of stroke grouped together in classification systems such as the Trial of ORG (danaparoid sodium [Orgaran]) 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) criteria, which limits the ability to individually inform young patients with stroke about their risk of recurrence. Objective: To determine the short-term and long-term risk of recurrent vascular events after ischemic stroke at a young age by stroke cause and to identify factors associated with recurrence. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used data from the Observational Dutch Young Symptomatic Stroke Study, a prospective, multicenter, hospital-based cohort study, conducted at 17 hospitals in the Netherlands between 2013 and 2021. Eligible participants included 30-day survivors of an initial, neuroimaging-proven ischemic stroke (aged 18-49 years). Data analysis was conducted from June to July 2023. Exposure: Diagnosis of a first-ever, ischemic stroke via neuroimaging. Main Outcome and Measures: The primary outcome was short-term (within 6 months) and long-term (within 5 years) recurrence risk of any vascular event, defined as fatal or nonfatal recurrent ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, myocardial infarction, and revascularization procedure. Predefined characteristics were chosen to identify factors associated with risk of recurrence (cause of stroke, age, sex, stroke severity, and cardiovascular health factors). Results: A total of 1216 patients (median [IQR] age, 44.2 [38.4-47.7] years; 632 male [52.0%]; 584 female [48.0%]) were included, with a median (IQR) follow-up of 4.3 (2.6-6.0) years. The 6-month risk of any recurrent ischemic event was 6.7% (95% CI, 5.3%-8.1%), and the 5-year risk was 12.2% (95% CI, 10.2%-14.2%)The short-term risk was highest for patients with cervical artery dissections (13.2%; 95% CI, 7.6%-18.7%). Other factors associated with a recurrent short-term event were atherothrombotic stroke, rare causes of stroke, and hypertension. The long-term cumulative risk was highest for patients with atherothrombotic stroke (22.7%; 95% CI, 10.6%-34.7%) and lowest for patients with cryptogenic stroke (5.8%; 95% CI, 3.0%-8.5%). Cardioembolic stroke was associated with a recurrent long-term event, as were diabetes and alcohol abuse. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this cohort study of 1216 patients with an ischemic stroke at a young age suggest that the risk of recurrent vascular events was high and varied by cause of stroke both for short-term and long-term follow-up, including causes that remained concealed when combined into 1 category in the routinely used TOAST criteria. This knowledge will allow for more personalized counseling of young patients with stroke.

Trigger Factors for Stroke in Young Adults: A Case-Crossover Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Causes of stroke in young adults differ from those in the elderly individuals, and in a larger percentage, no cause can be determined. To gain more insight into the etiology of (cryptogenic) stroke in the young population, we investigated whether trigger factors, such as short-lasting exposure to toxins or infection, may play a role. METHODS: Patients aged 18-49 years with a first-ever ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in 17 participating centers in the Netherlands completed a questionnaire about exposure to 9 potential trigger factors in hazard periods and on a regular yearly basis. A case-crossover design was used to assess relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) by the Mantel-Haenszel case-crossover method, for any stroke (ischemic stroke and ICH combined) and for different etiologic subgroups of ischemic stroke. RESULTS: One thousand one hundred forty-six patients completed the questionnaire (1,043 patients with an ischemic stroke and 103 with an ICH, median age 44.0 years, 52.6% men). For any stroke, an increased risk emerged within 1 hour of cola consumption (RR 2.0, 95% CI 1.5-2.8) and vigorous physical exercise (RR 2.6, 95% CI 2.2-3.0), within 2 hours after sexual activity (RR 2.4, 95% CI 1.6-3.5), within 4 hours after illicit drug use (RR 2.8, 95% CI 1.7-4.9), and within 24 hours after fever or flu-like disease (RR 14.1, 95% CI 10.5-31.2; RR 13.9, 95% CI 8.9-21.9). Four trigger factors increased the risk of other determined and cryptogenic ischemic stroke, 3 that of cardioembolic stroke, 2 that of large vessel atherosclerosis and likely atherothrombotic stroke combined and stroke with multiple causes, and none that of stroke due to small vessel disease. DISCUSSION: We identified cola consumption, vigorous physical exercise, sexual activity, illicit drug use, fever, and flu-like disease as potential trigger factors for stroke in the young population and found differences in the type and number of trigger factors associated with different etiologic subgroups of ischemic stroke. These findings might help in better understanding the pathophysiologic mechanisms of (cryptogenic) stroke in the young population.

Early seizures after intracerebral hemorrhage predict drug-resistant epilepsy.

Seizures are a common complication after an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and the epilepsy might even be drug resistant. It is not known which factors determine the treatment response in post-ICH epilepsy. We included ICH patients retrospectively who survived at least the first 7 days, in the period from 2004 to 2009 and assessed seizure occurrence up to May 2013. We defined early seizures (ES) as seizures occurring within the first 7 days after the ICH, and late seizures (LS) as seizures occurring later than 7 days after the ICH. We defined drug-resistant epilepsy as a non-response to two adequately chosen and dosed drug regimens. In 857 patients surviving at least 7 days after ICH 69 (8.1 %), patients developed ES whereas LS occurred in 84 (9.8 %) subjects. Patients with ES had higher odds to develop LS, as compared to patients without ES [OR 3.4; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 2.1-5.6]. Drug-resistant post-ICH epilepsy occurred in 19 patients (22.6 %). The most important independent risk factor was the occurrence of ES (OR 3.0; 95 %-CI 1.1-8.4). ES are the main independent risk factor for the development of LS and for the development of drug-resistant epilepsy. Thus, ES might hallmark the start of chronic epilepsy after intracerebral hemorrhage and are not to be considered of no significance.