Vietnam reports strokes at younger ages than developed countries: data

The average age of stroke patients in Vietnam is 62, compared to 70-75 in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, said Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Huy Thang, vice-president of the Vietnam Stroke Association and head of the cerebrovascular department at People’s Hospital 115 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The findings are based on data from 6,601 stroke cases treated at the hospital, Thang said.

Additional statistics from 2,300 patients enrolled in ResQ, a global stroke care registry program, showed similar results.

In a recent single-day count at the hospital, 49 new stroke patients were admitted, with nearly half under the age of 65. 

One patient was a woman born in 2004.

Global figures from the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and universities such as Oxford and Yale estimate the average age of stroke onset in the general population at around 70-75.

However, experts note that age can vary depending on region, gender and other risk factors.

“This suggests Vietnamese stroke patients are about a decade younger than their counterparts in developed nations,” Thang said.

He added that women tend to suffer strokes at older ages than men, potentially due to their longer life expectancy and lower rates of smoking and alcohol use.

Risk factors

The trend of younger stroke patients is not unique to Vietnam and is becoming more evident across developing countries, Thang said.

He pointed to several contributing factors:

- Chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol are being diagnosed earlier, driven by sedentary lifestyles, poor diets, and rising obesity rates.

- Urbanization has led to reduced physical activity, higher consumption of processed foods, and increased psychological stress.

- Air pollution in major cities is reaching hazardous levels. Recent studies suggest a possible link between pollution and elevated stroke risk.

- Limited access to healthcare means many young people remain undiagnosed for underlying conditions that could lead to stroke.

- Increased use of tobacco, alcohol, and stimulants is damaging vascular health in young adults.

- Genetic and ethnic factors may also contribute to higher stroke risk in some populations.

- Lack of awareness remains a critical issue, with many young people unaware of stroke symptoms and risk factors, leading to delayed medical intervention.

“Many assume stroke is a disease of the elderly, but that’s no longer the case in Vietnam,” Thang said.