ABSTRACT NUMBER: ESOC2026A2377 NEEDS AND CHALLENGES EXPERIENCED BY YOUNG PEOPLE WITH STROKE IN BELGIUM: SINGLE CENTER NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Abstract Background and aims Despite the prevailing misconception that strokes predominantly affect older populations, over 16% of stroke victims in Belgium are aged between 15 and 50, adding at least seven young stroke patients daily. This study aims to identify the unmet needs of Belgian patients with stroke aged 18-55 in order to develop a tailored care pathway that addresses these specific needs. Methods Participants, who had experienced a stroke of any type more than four months prior, were recruited from the outpatient stroke clinic of Antwerp University Hospital. Semi-structured interviews were conducted either face-to-face or remotely via Zoom, focusing on the lived experiences, unmet needs, and aspirations of the participants. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results We conducted interviews with 20 stroke survivors (female 55%) with a mean age of 44 years at stroke onset and mean time since stroke of 37.5 months. Stroke types included: ischemic (13), hemorrhagic (1), subarachnoid hemorrhage (6) and cerebral venous thrombosis (1). The median modified Rankin scale score was 1.5. Preliminary thematic analysis identified key challenges: (1) Lack of age-specific information about stroke; (2) Impact of invisible disability like fatigue; (3) Limited (access to) psychological support; (4) Limited support for returning to work. Conclusions This needs assessment will contribute to the development of a tailored care pathway that aligns with the recovery goals and age-specific needs of young people with stroke in Belgium. Conflict of interest All authors: nothing to disclose