Ischemic stroke epidemiology

Approximately 15% of deaths 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 comatose 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 deficits ranging from minor cognitive impairment to persistent coma. Of those who survive cardiac arrest, but die during their hospitalization, some progress to brain death and others die after withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment due to anticipated poor neurologic prognosis ¹⁾.

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 ²⁾. Over 10% of ischemic strokes occur in patients ≤ 55 yrs ³⁾.

Incidence: 10 per 100,000 persons age 35–44 yrs,22 73 per 100,000 for age < 55 yrs ⁴⁾.