Stroke in the Young: Incidence, 30-Day Case Fatality Rates, and Risk Factors Over Time in a Population-Based Study.

Authors

Emily R Fisher, Lili Ding, Robert J Stanton, Yasmin Ninette Aziz, Stacie Demel, Simona Ferioli, Matthew L Flaherty, Joseph LaPorta, Lauren E Menzies, Eva A Mistry, Paul Wechsler, Kyle B Walsh, Opeolu Adeoye, Elisheva R Coleman, Felipe De Los Rios La Rosa, Adam S Jasne, Pooja Khatri, Jason Mackey, Sharyl R Martini, Lisa Nobel, Sabreena Slavin, Brian Stamm, Michael Star, Daniel Woo, Shea Wright, Joseph P Broderick, Brett Kissela, Dawn Kleindorfer, David Robinson

Published in

Neurology. Volume 107. Issue 8. Pages e218622. Oct 27, 2026. Epub Sep 23, 2026.

Abstract

Despite an overall decline in incidence rate, the burden of stroke may be rising in young adults. We aimed to characterize the incidence rates, 30-day case fatality rates (CFRs), and the burden of stroke risk factors over time in young adults in a representative population-based study of stroke.
Using validated methods, hospitalized stroke cases in a 5-county region were ascertained and adjudicated by stroke-trained physicians in 6 study periods: July 1993-June 1994 and calendar years 1999, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. Stroke in the young was defined as those occurring among individuals who were aged 20-54 years. Incidence rates were generated using US Census data standardized to the 2010 population, and trends were tested with linear regression. Temporal trends in 30-day CFR were evaluated with logistic regression after adjusting for age, race, and sex.
Across all study periods, there were 2,076 first-ever strokes in young adults. Hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and substance use were more common over time (p < 0.001). The stroke incidence rate increased in young adults over time (33.90 cases/100,000 person-years in 1993/4 to 62.18 cases/100,000 person-years in 2020, trend p = 0.04), while declining in older adults (618.78 cases/100,000 person-years in 1993/4 to 453.04 cases/100,000 person-years in 2020, trend p = 0.02). The rise in stroke incidence appeared driven by ischemic stroke, with an almost doubled incidence rate of 23.8 cases/100,000 person-years in 1993/4 to 47.3 cases/100,000 person-years in 2020 (trend p = 0.02). There was a modest decline in the 30-day CFR in young adults (11.7% in 1993/4 to 9.4% in 2020, trend p = 0.002), driven by intracerebral hemorrhage (27.5% in 1993/4 to 21.2% in 2020, trend p = 0.03) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (27.9% in 1993/4 to 18.6% in 2020, trend p = 0.09).
The incidence of stroke in young adults is rising over time, while the CFR simultaneously declines. This coincides with a rise in both traditional vascular risk factors and substance use.

PMID:
42777185
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 24 Sep 2026.

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