Ischemic stroke in young patients in Medellín, Colombia.

BACKGROUND: There is scarce information about ischemic stroke in young patients in Colombia. To get insights about this phenomenon, this study describes the etiologies and risk factors of ischemic stroke in young patients in a third level complexity referral hospital in Medellin, Colombia. METHODS: A retrospective observational cross-sectional study was carried out reviewing the medical records of patients between 18 to 49 years old admitted for the first time for ischemic stroke, from January 2009 to December 2019. The sociodemographic characteristics, risk factors, and etiological classification of ischemic stroke according to the Trial of Org 10,172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) were described. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-seven cases were found. The most frequent risk factors were arterial hypertension (31.7%), smoking (29.5%) and alcohol intake (23.2%). There was a greater number of traditional cardiovascular risk factors at older ages. The TOAST classification was large-artery atherosclerosis (6.8%), cardioembolism (17.7%), small-vessel disease (7.6%), other determined etiology (25.7%) and undetermined (42.2%). Within cardioembolism, the most common high-risk source was valve replacement, and the most common moderate-risk source was patent foramen ovale. Craniocervical arterial dissection (11.4%) and substance abuse (2.9%) were the two most frequent sources within other determined etiologies. The most common compromised vascular territory was the anterior (55.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The high frequency of traditional risk factors in young patients highlights the need to optimize primary and secondary prevention plans. This study provides new insights about the relevance of illicit substance abuse in Colombia as a cause of stroke in young patients, unlike the previous one conducted in Bogotá. Infectious causes were other peculiarities found. It is necessary to investigate the reasons for the high proportion of undetermined causes.

Factores de riesgo y causas de ACV isquémico en pacientes jóvenes (18-49 años) en Colombia: una revisión sistemática / Risk factors and causes of ischemic stroke in young patients (18-49 years) in Colombia: a systematic review

INTRODUCCIÓN: El ataque cerebrovascular (ACV) es la principal causa de discapacidad en el mundo. Su incidencia está en aumento, incluso en jóvenes. Por lo anterior, los factores de riesgo y etiologías diversas del ACV en jóvenes deben estudiarse para planear acciones preventivas. Por eso en Colombia es necesario conocer dichos factores y etiologías analizando los estudios sobre el tema. METODOLOGÍA: Se hizo búsqueda y análisis de artículos sobre causas y factores de riesgo de ACV isquémico en Colombia publicados en Pubmed, Lilacs, Scielo, Google Scholar. Luego de revisar títulos y resúmenes se excluyeron los que no se referían a jóvenes entre 18 y 49 años o ACV isquémico, revisiones de tema, duplicados. Finalmente se analizaron 20 artículos. RESULTADOS Y DISCUSIÓN: La mayor parte de los estudios eran reporte o series de casos, sumaron 60 personas. No hubo predominio de sexo, excepto en los casos de síndrome antifosfolípido (SAF) que fueron mujeres, a diferencia de la mayoría de las series mundiales. La mayor frecuencia fue 56% para otras causas determinadas como SAF y disección de vasos craneocervicales, superior a otros reportes. Hubo una frecuencia baja de enfermedad de gran vaso, similar a otros estudios. La enfermedad de pequeño vaso fue mayor a otros reportes en Latinoamérica. CONCLUSIONES: La mayor parte de la información provino de reportes y series de caso que podrían no reflejar la frecuencia real de causas y factores de riesgo. Merece atención la neurocisticercosis y sustancias psicoactivas como causas de ACV propias de la revisión en colombiana.

INTRODUCTION: Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the world. Its incidence is increasing, even in young people. Therefore, the risk factors and various etiologies of stroke in young people should be studied to plan preventive actions. That is why in Colombia it is necessary to know these factors and etiologies analyzing the studies on the subject. METHODS: Search and analysis of articles on causes and risk factors of ischemic stroke in Colombia published in Pubmed, Lilacs, Scielo, Google Scholar. After reviewing titles and abstracts, those that did not refer to young people between 18 and 49 years, reviews, did not refer to ischemic strokes, duplicates, were excluded. Finally, 20 articles were analyzed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Most of the studies were report or case series, they added 60 people. There was no predominance of sex, except in the cases of antiphospholipid síndrome (APS) that were women, unlike most of the world series. The highest frequency was 56% for other determined causes such as APS and craniocervical vessel dissection, higher than other reports. There was a low frequency of large vessel disease, similar to other studies. Small vessel disease was higher than other reports in Latin America. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the information came from reports and case series that may not reflect the real frequency of causes and risk factors. Neurocysticercosis and psychoactive substances as causes of stroke proper of the review in Colombia deserve attention.