Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Huy Thang from People’s Hospital 115 (HCM City), said that the stroke rate among young people in Vietnam is increasing at an alarming rate.

From 9 am on May 11 to 6 am on May 12, People’s Hospital 115 recorded 50 stroke admissions, many of whom were patients under 50.

One was female patient H.T.K.V, 21, admitted at 6 pm on May 11 in critical condition. Doctors diagnosed her with brain hemorrhage due to cerebral venous system thrombosis. After over a day of intensive emergency care, her condition improved.

Another case involved a 40-year-old man admitted in critical condition with a brain hemorrhage caused by uncontrolled hypertension.

Thang cited the hospital’s statistics as reporting that the average age of 6,601 stroke patients was 62. Another study on over 2,300 stroke patients in Vietnam yielded similar results. Compared to developed countries, the average stroke age in Vietnam is about 10 years lower, indicating a clear trend for younger patients.

Thang highlighted seven main reasons for this trend:

First, increasing early-onset chronic conditions. Young people are increasingly facing conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia at earlier ages. Sedentary lifestyles, frequent fast food consumption, low intake of vegetables, and obesity are key drivers of these conditions.

Second, urbanized lifestyle. Rapid urbanization has changed young people’s habits. Lack of physical activity, consumption of processed foods high in salt and sugar, and psychological stress from work and urban life all increase stroke risk.

Third, environmental pollution. Air pollution in major cities in developing countries has reached alarming levels. Recent studies show a link between long-term exposure to polluted air and increased stroke risk.

Fourth, limited healthcare access. Healthcare systems in many developing countries lack effective screening programs for conditions like hypertension or diabetes. Failure to detect and treat these in time raises stroke risk in young people.

Fifth, substance abuse habits. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and stimulant use are rising among young people. These habits damage blood vessels, especially when combined with other risk factors.

Sixth, genetic and ethnic factors. Certain ethnic groups in developing countries have a higher genetic risk of vascular diseases. Combined with unhealthy lifestyles, this significantly increases stroke risk.

Seventh, lack of awareness of stroke. Many young people don’t understand stroke risk factors and symptoms. The assumption that strokes only affect older adults leads to delays in seeking medical care, resulting in severe complications.

Thang said that raising community awareness, improving lifestyles, and enhancing medical screening programs are essential to reducing stroke risk in young people.

Phuong Thuy