RECENT ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION, CIGARETTE-SMOKING, AND CEREBRAL INFARCTION IN YOUNG-ADULTS

Background and Purpose The role of recent heavy drinking of alcohol as a risk factor for ischemic brain infarction is unclear. We investigat ed this problem in young adults, in whom even a thorough workup often fails to reveal any predisposing factor. Methods This was a hospital-b ased case-control study comprising 75 consecutive subjects aged 16 to 40 years with first-ever ischemic brain infarction and 133 central sub jects from the same hospital who were group-marched with the case pati ents for age, sex, day of the onset of symptoms, and acuteness of dise ase onset. Results Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that a lcohol intake exceeding 40 g of ethanol within the 24 hours preceding disease onset was a significant independent risk factor for brain infa rction among both men (odds ratio [OR], 6.0; 95% confidence interval [ CI], 1.8 to 20.3) and women (OR, 7.8; 95% CI, 1.0 to 60.8). Cigarette smoking was not found to be an independent risk factor in the model, w hereas among men arterial hypertension was (OR, 6.2; 95% CI, 1.5 to 24 .7). Conclusions We conclude that very recent alcohol drinking, partic ularly drinking for intoxication, may trigger the onset of brain infar ction in young adults and that there might be a variety of mechanisms behind this effect.