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Increasing substance abuse linked to rising incidence of stroke in young adults
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In 2005, among young adults who experienced a stroke, half were current smokers and one in five abused illegal drugs, leading researchers to suggest that increasing substance abuse is a common and important risk factor for stroke in this patient population.
Researchers conducted a population-based study to identify all patients aged 18 to 54 years who experienced an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Study region during 1993 to 1994, 1999 and 2005.
Results revealed an increase from 297 patients with stroke during 1993 to 1994 to 501 patients in 2005. Black patients (61% vs. 51%; P<.02) and men (61% vs. 47%; P<.002) reported current smoking and alcohol or illicit drug use more often than white patients and women, according to the researchers.
Overall substance use, including current smoking, alcohol and illicit drug use, also increased across all study periods (45% in 1993 vs. 62% in 2005; P=.003), with significant trends for illegal drug use (3.8% in 1993 vs. 19.8% in 2005) and ever smoking (49% in 1993 vs. 66% in 2005). Documented cocaine and marijuana use also rose over time.
The researchers noted the increase in overall substance abuse correlated with an increase in the documented use of substances within 24 hours of stroke (1.4% in 1993, 6.3% in 1999 and 12.8% in 2005; P<.0001).
“In our population, detection of both illicit drug use and ever smoking among young adults with a diagnosis of stroke increased from 1993 to 2005, preferentially in those aged 35 to 54 years. The observed increase in substance abuse is contributing to the increased incidence of stroke in young adults. All patients aged <55 years who experience a stroke should be routinely screened and counseled regarding substance abuse,” the researchers wrote.
Disclosure: This study was funded by the NIH, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. See the study for a full list of researchers’ financial disclosures.
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