Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Young Ischemic Stroke Patients Admitted at a Tertiary Care Hospital: An Observational Study

Introduction: Stroke in young adults (aged 15-49 years) is an increasingly recognized public health concern in both developed and developing nations. While traditional stroke occurs predominantly in older populations, the incidence in younger age groups has been rising, particularly in resource-limited settings like Nepal. Understanding the cardiovascular risk factor profile in this population is essential for implementing preventive strategies. Methods: This retrospective observational study reviewed medical records of patients aged 15-49 years admitted with ischemic stroke at Patan Hospital, a tertiary care center in Lalitpur, Nepal, from July 2022 to June 2025. Demographic data, cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking), cardiac conditions (atrial fibrillation, rheumatic heart disease, cardiomyopathy), length of hospital stay, and in hospital outcomes were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Among 96 patients with usable data, mean age of participant was 39.0±8.3 years. Among them 53 (55.20%) were male. Risk factor like dyslipidemia was present in 52 (54.16%), smoking in 26 (27.08%), hypertension in 19 (19.79%), and diabetes mellitus in 14 (14.58%) patients. Rheumatic heart disease was identified in 5 (5.20%) cases. Mean length of hospital stay was 7.1±6.5 days, with 12.50% in-hospital mortality (12 deaths among 96 patients). Conclusions: Modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, particularly dyslipidemia, smoking, and hypertension, are common among young ischemic stroke patients.