Stroke in Young Black Patients

Abstract

Background and Purpose Stroke subtypes and prognosis differ among older black patients compared with whites; however, few data are available regarding stroke among young black patients. Methods To determine the risk factors for stroke, stroke subtype, and prognosis among young black patients, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all 15- to 44-year-old patients admitted with stroke to a university-affiliated public hospital from January 1990 through June 1994. Results Of the 248 eligible patients admitted with stroke, 219 were blacks. Hypertension was more frequently associated with stroke in young black than in non-black patients (55% versus 24%, P =.003). Cocaine abuse was frequent among both black and non-black patients (27% versus 38%, P =NS). Hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (64%) was the most common subtype of intracerebral hemorrhage (n=67), and lacunar infarction (21%) was the most common subtype of cerebral infarction (n=112) in young black patients. Outcome in black patients with stroke at discharge was 69% independent, 8% dependent, and 23% dead. Conclusions The high frequency of hypertension, hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage, and lacunar infarction among young black patients with stroke suggests accelerated hypertensive arteriolar damage, possibly due to poor control of hypertension.