EJHaem

Iron deficiency anemia tied to increase in ischemic stroke risk in young adults

May 15, 2025

Study details: This retrospective study examined the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in young adults with and without ischemic stroke to clarify the relationship between IDA and stroke risk.

Results: A total of 21,802,239 patients were initially identified; 36,989 were assigned to Group A and 21,765,250 were assigned to Group B. In Group A, 1,880 (5.1%) had a diagnosis of antecedent IDA. In Group B, 241,110 participants had a first-time diagnosis of IDA (1.10%). Antecedent IDA was associated with a 39% increased risk of ischemic stroke (p < 0.001). African American adults aged 20 to 39 had a higher stroke risk than Caucasian adults aged 40 to 50 with IDA.

Clinical impact: These findings underscore the importance of screening for IDA in young adults, particularly those at risk for ischemic stroke. Given the global burden of IDA, implementing effective screening and treatment strategies could potentially reduce the incidence of ischemic stroke in this demographic.

Source:

Gollamudi J, et al. (2025, April 23). EJHaem. Iron Deficiency Anemia and Ischemic Stroke in Young Adults. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40271448/