Clinical predictors of death in young and middle-aged patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack: long-term results of the Vienna Stroke Registry

Data on long-term survival of younger patients with ischemic stroke (IS) are limited. We assessed mortality rates and clinical predictors of survival in patients with IS or transient ischemic attack (TIA) <60 years. Consecutive patients with IS or TIA <60 years admitted to nine neurological departments in Vienna between 1998 and 2001 were included into the current study. The endpoint was overall mortality. Univariate Cox regression analyses were performed. Significant variables after Bonferroni adjustment were further considered in a multivariate Cox regression analysis. Kaplan–Meier curves and ROC curves were plotted. After excluding patients who died within the first 30 days, 661 patients (65% male, mean age 50.2) were followed for a mean of 8.8 years. The cumulative mortality rate was 2.4% after 1 year and 7.8% after 5 years. Diabetes, heavy drinking, heart failure, and age remained significantly associated with mortality in the multivariate Cox regression analysis. Separate analysis of the patient groups <50 and ≥50 years showed none of the included factors to be significantly associated with mortality in the younger patient group. In the patient group, ≥50 of the same risk factors as in the whole group analysis showed a statistically significant influence. The observed mortality rates were lower compared to earlier studies conducted in younger patient groups. Although we found subgroups at higher risk of death in the entire population, in patients <50 years of age, predictors of survival remained elusive.