A CONDITION affecting 10 million Brits has been detected as a new risk factor for strokes in young people.
Strokes – where blood flow to the brain is suddenly interrupted – are often made more likely by conditions like , but scientists said people under 50 might be affected by different risk factors.
A new study found that adults younger than 50 were more than twice as likely to have a if they suffered from , compared to commonly-known risk factors such as high blood pressure.
Previous research shows that increasing numbers of adultsbetween the ages of 18 and 49 are sufferingfrom ischaemicstrokes, caused by blood clots interrupting blood flow to the brain.
In many of these cases, the adults in question won't have traditional stroke risk factors, such as high blood pressure, , ortype 2 – meaning these strokes won't have a known cause.
Lead author Jukka Putaala, head of the stroke unit at the Neurocenter, Helsinki University Hospital, said: “Up to half of all ischaemic strokes in younger adults are of unknown causes, and they are more common in women.
“For effective prevention, careful and routine assessment of both traditional and nontraditional risk factors in younger people is critical.
“We should also carefully screen people after they have a stroke to prevent future strokes.”;
The study – published in the journal Stroke – analysed data for more than 1,000 adults aged 18-49 in , who had an average age of 41.
Half of the participants had experienced a cryptogenic ischaemic stroke (strokes without a known cause), while half had no history of stroke.
Researchers looked into 12 traditional risk factors, 10 less common risk factors and five risk factors specific to women, such as gestational diabetes or complications.
They also reviewed participants with a heart defect calledpatent foramen ovale (PFO), a hole between the heart's upper chambers.
A PFO is usually harmless, but it can increase the odds of stroke.
The study aimed to determine which risk factors contribute the most to unexplained strokes.
Men and women without a PFO were more likely to suffer a stroke if they have traditional risk factor conditions.
But study participants who had a PFO were more likely to suffer a stroke if they had non-traditional risk factors, such as blood clots in the veins, migraines with aura, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease or cancer.
In those without a PFO, each additional traditional risk factor increased stroke risk by 41 per cent, while each non-traditional risk factor increased stroke risk by 70 per cent.
Women suffering from pregnancy complications were also had a 70 per cent increased risk of stroke.
Among participants with a PFO, each traditional risk factor increased the risk of stroke by 18 per cent.
But researchers found that their risk of stroke more than doubled if they had uncommon risk factors.
Dr Putaala said: “We were surprised by the role of non-traditional risk factors, especially migraine headaches, which seems to be one of the leading risk factors in the development of strokes in younger adults,”;
“Our results should inform the professional community to develop a more tailored approach to risk factor assessment and management.
“We should be asking young women if they have a history of migraine headaches and about other nontraditional risk factors.”;
Tracy Madsen, chair of the Clinical Cardiology/Stroke Women’s Health Committee at the American Heart Association – who wasn't involved in the study, said: “We know that stroke risk changes based on sex and age.
“For instance, recent data shows that younger women may have a higher risk of stroke than younger men.
“However, during middle age, men usually have a higher risk.
“Recognising specific risks that affect women and those not commonly seen, such as migraine with aura and pregnancy complications as significant contributors to stroke risk in younger women, could change our approach to screening for these risks and educating our patients throughout their lives.”;
Researchers noted that their study was observational, meaning it can't prove cause and effect between migraine and stroke.
The study also relied on patient to report risk factors, which may have impacted accuracy.
