Rising strokes in younger age group blamed on obesity

MEDICS have raised concern about rising rates of strokes among younger age groups, saying they are fuelled by soaring obesity rates.

Research by the University of Oxford shows an increase in strokes among those aged between 35 and 54, although it is falling in older age groups.

The study found that in a decade, deaths from stroke had halved, largely thanks to advances in treatment.

But the research showed the numbers suffering the condition in their 30s, 40s and 50s has risen by a fifth over the same period.

Experts said rising obesity levels – with two in three adults overweight or obese – were likely to be contributing to the trend.

They also highlighted low take-up of NHS health checks among younger age groups, with just one in 10 of those in their 40s and 50s taking up the programme offered by GP surgeries.

The study, published in the BMJ, involved data from almost 800,000 adults in England who were admitted to hospital with acute stroke or who died from a stroke between 2001 and 2010.

Overall, death rates from the condition – which occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is cut off – decreased by 55 per cent over the period.

Across all age groups, the incidence of strokes also fell, by around one fifth.

The authors said those younger than 55 years old should be made aware of the risk of strokes to counteract the rise of cases in young adults.

They added that the increasing use of cocaine among younger age groups could be contributing to the trend.