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Stroke in Children Rare But Costly

Strokes with intracerebral hemorrhage, bleeding inside the brain, required an average hospital stay of 9.6 days, at a cost of more than $24,000.
Ischemic strokes, blockage in a blood vessel in or leading to the brain, required an average hospital stay of 6.6 days, at a cost of $15,000.
Of the total number of strokes, 22 percent were subarachnoid hemorrhages, 23 percent were intracerebral hemorrhages and 55 percent were ischemic.
"Ischemic strokes tend to be lower-cost," Lo said. "The bleeding types of stroke are more expensive."

A reason for doing the study is that "if we are able to identify what factors increase stroke risk, here is an argument for preventive measures not only because of the physical deficiencies they cause but also because of the cost to the country," Lo said.

The major risk factors for stroke in young people include sickle cell anemia and congenital heart disease, he said.

"We regularly see a child with stroke frequently associated with another diagnosis, such as sickle cell disease or congenital heart disease," said Dr. Jilda Vargus-Adams, an attending pediatric physiatrist who oversees rehabilitation services for such children at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

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