Young ischaemic stroke incidence and demographic characteristics - The Norwegian stroke in the young study - A three-generation research program

Abstract

Introduction: Norwegian Stroke in the Young Study (NOR-SYS) is a three-generation research program of young ischaemic stroke. In this study, we assessed ischaemic stroke incidence, education and work status among young stroke patients. Furthermore, we evaluated the participation of family members for future validated information on hereditary cardiovascular events.

Patients and methods: Patients aged 15-60 years with radiologically verified acute ischaemic stroke, admitted to Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway from 2010 to 2015, were included. Patients' partners, common offspring ≥ 18 years and biological parents of patients and partners were invited to participate. Ischaemic stroke incidence was analysed with respect to year, age and sex using multiple logistic regression.

Results: A total of 385 patients, 260 partners (80.0%) and 414 offspring (74.6%) were clinically examined. The mean annual ischaemic stroke incidence rate was 30.2 per 100,000. Incidence was higher in men, and the difference was accentuated with increasing age (p = 0.008). There was no sex difference in educational status (p = 0.104) in contrast to work status (p < 0.001) for patients. In all, 84.1% of men worked, and of these, 80.3% are fulltime. In all, 74.4% of women worked, and of these, 52.9% are fulltime. Parents participated by returning a questionnaire. For patients, 91 fathers (55.2%) and 142 mothers (57.3%) participated. For partners, 48 fathers (38.4%) and 68 mothers (40.2%) participated.

Conclusion: The mean annual incidence rate of young stroke was 30.2 per 100,000, and the incidence rate was higher in men. Work status was high among both sexes. Active participation rates were high for patients, partners and offspring.

Keywords: Young stroke; education and work status; family participation; incidence.

© European Stroke Organisation 2019.

Figures

Figure 1.

Observed and estimated (Note: from the logistic regression model given in Table 2.) mean annual incidence (Note: 95% confidence intervals (CI) are given for the incidence rates.) of ischaemic stroke at age 15–60 years per 100,000 inhabitants in Bergen and 23 surrounding communities, western Norway (Note: The total average population at age 15–60 years from 2010 to 2015 consisted of 266,000 inhabitants.) from September 2010 through August 2015 differentiated by age and gender and based on data from the Norwegian Stroke in the Young Study.

Figure 2.

Observed and estimated (Note: From the logistic regression model given in Table 2.) mean annual incidence (Note: 95% confidence intervals (CI) are given for the incidence rates.) of ischaemic stroke at age 15–60 years per 100,000 inhabitants in Bergen and 23 surrounding communities, western Norway (Note: The total average population at age 15–60 years from 2010 to 2015 consisted of 266,000 inhabitants.) for each year from 2010 to 2015.

Figure 3.

Participation rates of all participant groups in the Norwegian Stroke in the Young Study for 385 incident cases of ischaemic stroke 2010–2015.