According to new analysis from HQI, stroke rates among Californians aged 18-44 rose from 23 per 100,000 in 2018 to 28 per 100,000 in 2023; hemorrhagic strokes caused more deaths in 2023. Significant racial disparities persisted:
- Black patients had almost double the stroke rate of other groups.
- Hispanic, white, and American Indian/Native Hawaiian rates were intermediate.
- Asian patients had the lowest rates, though rates were higher in men.
Stroke risk was largely influenced by race, not sex; older adults also saw higher rates. Key risk factors include smoking, obesity, inactivity, hypertension, and substance abuse.
