A new study published in the journal eJHaem has found that iron deficiency anemia (IDA) significantly raises the risk of ischemic stroke in young adults. This groundbreaking research, led by Dr. Jahnavi Gollamudi from the University of Cincinnati, is the first to explore the link between IDA and stroke in people aged 15 to 50—a group known to be vulnerable to iron deficiency.
Iron deficiency anemia is the most widespread form of anemia worldwide. It occurs when the body does not have enough iron to produce healthy red blood cells, leading to symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and pale skin.
Women are particularly affected due to menstruation and pregnancy, which increase iron demands. For young women, IDA is a well-known concern, and in pregnant women, it has been linked to developmental issues in children, including intellectual disability, autism, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Surprisingly, the link between IDA and ischemic stroke—a type of stroke caused by a blockage in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain—has not been well studied in young adults, despite the fact that strokes in this age group account for 10% to 15% of all stroke cases.
This new research aims to fill that gap by examining a large population of young adults across the United States.
To investigate this connection, the research team analyzed health records from more than 300 hospitals nationwide, reviewing data from 21,802,239 patients aged 15 to 50. The patients were divided into two groups:
Group A: Individuals with a first-time diagnosis of ischemic stroke (36,989 people).
Group B: Individuals without a history of ischemic stroke (21,765,250 people).
Patients with certain conditions known to affect stroke risk, like atrial fibrillation, thrombophilia, cancer, obesity, pregnancy, and blood clotting disorders, were excluded from the study to ensure more accurate results. This careful selection allowed the researchers to focus specifically on IDA as a risk factor.
The findings were clear: young adults with IDA were far more likely to experience an ischemic stroke than those without anemia. In Group A, 5.1% of stroke patients had IDA before their stroke, compared to only 1.1% in Group B.
After adjusting for other risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and obesity, the study found that people with IDA had a 39% higher chance of having a stroke.
The researchers also uncovered important demographic patterns. A significant interaction was found between age, race, and IDA in relation to stroke risk.
African American adults aged 20 to 39 with IDA were found to be at a higher risk of ischemic stroke than Caucasian adults aged 40 to 50 with the same condition. This suggests that both age and ethnicity play a role in how IDA influences stroke risk.
The study further suggested that social and environmental factors might worsen the risks. Limited access to nutritious food and infrequent health check-ups could contribute to both higher rates of iron deficiency and increased stroke risk due to poor overall health.
These external influences might make it more difficult for certain populations to manage or even detect their iron deficiency early on.
Interestingly, the study also pointed out that the true prevalence of IDA in the population might be much higher than currently reported. In the analysis, only 1.11% of the total study population was diagnosed with IDA, far below the estimated global rate of 5%.
The researchers believe this difference is likely due to underdiagnosis, particularly among people who do not regularly visit doctors or have access to blood tests.
Dr. Gollamudi and her team concluded that their findings demonstrate a clear connection between IDA and ischemic stroke in young adults.
They emphasized the need for effective screening strategies to catch iron deficiency early, particularly in young women and African American adults, who seem to be at the greatest risk. By identifying and treating IDA sooner, it may be possible to prevent strokes and improve long-term health outcomes.
This study sheds light on a potentially preventable risk factor for stroke in younger populations. It suggests that routine screening for iron deficiency, especially in those with known risk factors, could significantly reduce stroke incidence.
With the proper medical attention, IDA could be managed before it leads to serious complications, offering hope for better stroke prevention in the future.
If you care about stroke, please read studies about how to eat to prevent stroke, and diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and wild blueberries can benefit your heart and brain.
The research findings can be found in eJHaem.
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