Admissions for Ischemic Stroke Among Younger Adults in Kentucky: A Comparison of Appalachian and Non-Appalachian Counties.

Residents of Appalachian counties have worse health outcomes compared to non-Appalachian counties. It is unclear to what extent disparities exist for younger adults in this region who have experienced an ischemic stroke (IS). This study compared sociodemographic characteristics of younger adults (ages 20-64 yrs) who experienced an IS in Appalachian and non-Appalachian counties in Kentucky using the 2014 State Inpatient Database. Admissions were higher among Appalachian patients of lower income and Appalachian patients who resided in rural areas. Admissions were also higher among Appalachian patients with heart disease. These findings indicate sociodemographic differences may exist among younger adults admitted for IS in the Kentucky Appalachian region. These findings improve our understanding of how stroke is distributed among younger adults in Appalachia.