May 24, 2024 – Strokes – a medical emergency that typically affects older adults – are also increasing amongst younger people.
A study A CDC study released Thursday says that from 2011-2013 to 2020-2022, self-reported stroke cases increased by 14.6% amongst people ages 18 to 44 and by about 15.7% amongst people ages 45 to 64.
Stroke data were included within the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Participants within the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were asked, “Has a doctor or other health care professional ever told you that you have had a stroke?”
Across all age groups, the variety of strokes increased by 7.8 percent during this era. This is a reversal from the years 2006 to 2010, when the variety of strokes decreased by 3.7 percent across all age groups.
Researchers said obesity and the opioid epidemic could also be behind the rise in strokes amongst younger Americans.
From 1999-2000 to 2017-2018, obesity increased from 27.5% to 43% amongst men and from 33.4% to 41.9% amongst women, in line with the CDC. The highest obesity rate was 44.8% amongst those ages 40 to 59 in 2017-2018. Researchers also found a rise in hospitalizations from 2006 to 2015 amongst people under 45 because of strokes related to opioid use.
The study found demographic differences in stroke through the study period from 2011–2013 to 2020–2022.
Stroke rates increased 9.3% amongst women, 6.2% amongst men, 7.8% amongst blacks, 7.2% amongst whites, 16.1% amongst Hispanics, and 52.3% amongst Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Stroke rates increased in 10 states, with Ohio (20.9%) and Tennessee (20.7%) seeing the biggest increases.
“Identifying and understanding demographic factors associated with stroke and differences in stroke prevalence could help better target programmatic and clinical interventions to improve stroke prevention and treatment at the state and national levels,” the study authors said.
According to the US federal agency, stroke is the fifth leading reason behind death within the United States.