Ischaemic stroke in young adults: A comparative study between Malaysia and Australia
- Author:
Kay Sin Tan
;
Chong Tin Tan
;
Leonid Churilov
;
Mark Mackay
;
Geoffrey A Donnan
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Neurology Asia
2010;15(1):1-9
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background and Objectives: There is a paucity of comparative studies on young strokes between
populations of different ethnicities and geographical regions. The purpose of this study was to compare
the patterns, risk factors and etiologies of ischaemic stroke in younger patients between stroke registries
in Malaysia and Australia. Methods: From January 2007 to March 2008, all consecutive ischaemic
stroke patients from the age of 18 to 49 were studied. Results: There were 67 patients for Malaysia
and 61 for Australia, with 4 deaths in the Malaysian series (case-fatality of 6%), and no deaths for
Australia. The mean age was 41.5±8.8 yrs for Malaysia and 40.1±8.8 years for Australia. The ethnic
origin was Malays, Chinese and Indian for Malaysia, and Caucasians (85%) for Australia. The sex
ratio was M : F = 1.4 : 1 for Malaysia and 1.54 :1 for Australia. The differences in risk factors for
Malaysia versus Australia were: Diabetes (OR 7.25; 95% CI 2.78-19.45), hypertension (OR 6.42;
95% CI 2.75-15.22) and chronic renal disease (OR 5.2; 95% CI 1.02-35.87). Conversely, smoking
was a signifi cant risk factor for Australia (OR 2.75; 95% CI 1.2-6.37). The Malaysian patients have
signifi cantly higher proportions of large vessel atherosclerosis and small vessel occlusion by TOAST
classifi cation, accounting for 60% of patients, while the Australian series had greater proportions of
cardioembolism and patients in the determined aetiologies category, specifi cally vascular dissection.
Conclusion: There were signifi cantly more large vessel atherosclerosis and small vessel occlusion
among young Malaysians with ischaemic stroke as compared to Australia.
- Full text:P020150824458696766094.pdf
