A perspective on the burden of stroke among young adults in Africa

Abstract

Stroke in young adults poses significant public health challenges, with deleterious impacts on individual morbidity and mortality. It significantly affects the productivity and growth of the patients’ families, as well as the communities in which they reside. This review explores the burden of stroke among young adults in Africa, highlighting the incidence and prevalence rates, aetiologies, geologic variations and risk factors. These risk factors are classified into modifiable or non-modifiable, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus and lifestyle-related factors. We also highlight the clinical manifestations, outcomes and implications, with attention on the effect of poor health care, substandard diagnostic facilities and equipment, and insufficient health-related professionals in the management of young African adults with stroke. The article outlines future directions to address the ever-growing burden of stroke in young adults and possible solutions, emphasizing region-specific strategies and collaborative studies to aid in mitigating the current implications of stroke in young adults in Africa.