Low cholesterol is the most common risk factor for brain hemorrhage in people under 40

This study was published in Stroke 1999 Mar;30(3):537-41

 

Study title and authors:

Intracerebral hemorrhage in young people: analysis of risk factors, location, causes, and prognosis.

Ruíz-Sandoval JL, Cantú C, Barinagarrementeria F.

Stroke Clinic, Stroke Program, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10066848

This study investigated the risk factors for intracerebral (brain) hemorrhage in young people. The study included 200 patients, aged 15 to 40 years, with confirmed intracerebral hemorrhage.

The study found the most frequent risk factors were:
(i) Low cholesterol levels (less than 160 mg/dL or  4.1 mmol/L) (35%)
(ii) Tobacco use (20%)
(iii) High blood pressure (13%)
(iv) Alcohol use (10%)

The results of the study reveal that low cholesterol is the most common risk factor for brain hemorrhage in people under 40.