====== Ischemic stroke epidemiology ====== Approximately 15% of [[death]]s in a [[developed country]] are due to [[sudden cardiac arrest]], making it the most common cause of death worldwide. Though high-quality [[cardiopulmonary resuscitation]] has improved overall survival rates, the majority of survivors remain [[coma]]tose after return of spontaneous circulation secondary to hypoxic-[[ischemic brain injury]]. Since the advent of targeted temperature management, neurologic recovery has improved substantially, but the majority of patients are left with [[neurologic deficit]]s ranging from minor [[cognitive impairment]] to persistent [[coma]]. Of those who survive cardiac arrest, but die during their [[hospital]]ization, some progress to [[brain death]] and others die after withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment due to anticipated poor neurologic [[prognosis]] ((Carroll E, Lewis A. Neuroprognostication after Cardiac Arrest: Who Recovers? Who Progresses to Brain Death? Semin Neurol. 2021 Oct;41(5):606-618. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1733789. Epub 2021 Oct 7. PMID: 34619784.)). ---- [[Ischemic stroke]] is a leading cause of [[mortality]] and [[morbidity]] worldwide, and [[atherosclerosis]] is one of the major risk factors for this neurologic deficit. ---- Only 3% of ischemic strokes occur in patients < 40 yrs of age ((Hart RG, Miller VT. Cerebral Infarction in Young Adults: A Practical Approach. Stroke. 1983; 14:110– 114)). Over 10% of ischemic strokes occur in patients ≤ 55 yrs ((You RX, McNeil JJ, O'Malley HM, et al. Risk factors for stroke due to cerebral infarction in young adults. Stroke. 1997; 28:1913–1918)). Incidence: 10 per 100,000 persons age 35–44 yrs,22 73 per 100,000 for age < 55 yrs ((You RX, McNeil JJ, O'Malley HM, et al. Risk factors for stroke due to cerebral infarction in young adults. Stroke. 1997; 28:1913–1918)).