News - Hypertension Week of Jan. 19, 2003/ Vol. 2 No. 03

Study: Juvenile Diabetics More Likely to Die from Stroke

People with insulin-dependent (type 1 diabetes) have a higher risk of dying from a stroke than non-diabetics, according to a study reported in the Jan. 16th rapid access issue of Stroke.

The study adds new information to what is already known about strokes in patients with diabetes. Previous findings have shown that the risk of death due to stroke is increased in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes (type-2 diabetes).

Researchers studied 23,751 patients diagnosed with type-1 diabetes under age 30 who were followed for an average of 17 years. A total of 80 deaths occurred in this group due to stroke.

Overall, the rates of death due to stroke in this group were significantly higher compared with the general population. This was particularly true in the 20-39 age group where the risk of death due to stroke was more than five times higher in men and seven times higher in women compared to the general population.

Study author Susan P. Laing, of the Institute of Cancer Research in Great Britain, said the findings "emphasize the vital need to identify and treat known cardiovascular risk factors in young people with diabetes."

Other sources: American Heart Association