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Long‐term outcome of cerebral infarction in young adults
Author(s) -
Naess H.,
Nyland H. I.,
Thomassen L.,
Aarseth J.,
Myhr K.M.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2004.00273.x
Subject(s) - medicine , modified rankin scale , diabetes mellitus , cerebral infarction , stroke (engine) , infarction , epilepsy , population , pediatrics , surgery , ischemic stroke , ischemia , myocardial infarction , psychiatry , endocrinology , mechanical engineering , environmental health , engineering
Objectives – We analysed the long‐term outcome of 232 young adults aged 15–49 years with first‐ever cerebral infarction in 1988–1997 in western Norway. Material and methods – Mortality, recurrence, epilepsy, functional state as evaluated by modified Rankin scale (mRS), and employment were analysed at follow‐up (mean time 5.7 years). Results – Twenty‐three (9.9%) patients had died. Recurrence occurred in 9.9%, and post‐stroke seizures developed in 10.5%. Recurrence was associated with diabetes mellitus ( P = 0.005). Favourable functional outcome (mRS = 2) was found in 77.9%. The functional outcome was better in posterior than anterior circulation infarctions ( P = 0.011). Unfavourable functional outcome (mRS > 2) was associated with diabetes mellitus ( P = 0.001) and severity of neurological deficits on admission for the index stroke ( P < 0.001). Only 58.3% were employed at follow‐up. Conclusion – This population‐based study shows that, although the majority had favourable functional outcome, cerebral infarction had major long‐term impact on young adults as evaluated by mortality, recurrence and employment status.