Nearly 1 in 7 stroke patients in India are under 45, says national registry

​Strokes are no longer a disease limited to the elderly. A recent analysis by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-led national stroke registry programme has revealed that nearly 14% of stroke patients in India are below the age of 45. The study, based on around 35,000 cases recorded across 30 hospitals between 2020 and 2022, shows an average patient age of 59 years, but highlights a worrying rise in young-onset strokes.

High blood pressure remains the leading risk factor, affecting nearly three-fourths of patients. Diabetes, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and unhealthy cholesterol levels are also major contributors. Experts link this trend to rapid urbanisation,sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary habits, rising stress levels, and irregular sleep patterns among younger adults.

The data also exposes serious gaps in emergency response. Only about 20% of patients reached the hospital within the critical 4.5-hour window required for effective treatments such as thrombolysis or thrombectomy. Nearly 40% arrived after 24 hours, significantly reducing survival chances and increasing the risk of permanent disability. More than half of stroke patients experienced death or major disability within three months.

Doctors stress the importance of early recognition using the fast method- face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, and time to time to seek help. Regular blood pressure checks, diabetes control, physical activity, healthy diet and avoiding tobacco can significantly lower risk.

The findings signal an urgent need for greater public awareness, preventive healthcare, and stronger emergency infrastructure to protect India’s young population from a largely preventable disease.