الفهرس 
Title : Stroke in young adults and substance abuse: relative frequency, characteristics, and outcome
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Abstract
Stroke incidence among young adults has risen in the last decade. Disability and risk of stroke recurrence occur during the peak of their productive lives. This research is an attempt to determine the effect of substance abuse as risk factor of stroke, on the characteristics, prognosis, and outcome of stroke among young adults.
Methods: Through a retrospective cohort study, the medical records of stroke in young adults (15-45) years, admitted to intensive care units ICUs in Kasr El Ainy hospital from May 2018 to July 2021, were used to fulfill a prepared checklist including the stroke pathology, type, site, national institute of health stroke scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin scale.
Results: The prevalence of substance abuse among young stroke patients was 41%. The median age of young abusers was 39 years old. Presence of other modifiable risk factors was higher among non-abusers (78%-100(. Cerebellar stroke was prevalent among abusers 30% especially alcohol and cannabis abusers. Fifty four percent of abusers had a stroke due to lesion in the posterior circulation especially tramadol, cannabis, and cocaine. Young abusers showed a statistically significantly higher NIHSS score than the non-abusers at onset and after two weeks of hospital stay. Alcohol, heroin, and cocaine abusers showed significant poorer functional outcome.
Conclusion: The study observed that substance abuse related stroke occurs frequently in younger age with relatively higher incidence in posterior circulation and a higher incidence of cerebellar affection. It was noticed a poorer outcome among young adults abusing alcohol, heroin, and cocaine.