MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Kuantan, Kuantan, Pahang. Patients were selected using stratified random sampling, and 201 participants were selected. The selected participants were asked to fill up the self-administered validated questionnaires consisting of background characteristics and Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire 18 (PSQ-18). Data collection period was from March 2022 to August 2022. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the background characteristics of respondents and the score of patient satisfaction. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the factors associated with patient satisfaction while adjusting for cofounders.

RESULTS: A total of 201 eligible data points were analysed in the study. The respondent mean age was 47.1 ± 16.9. Most respondents were Malay (68.7%), having secondary education (54.2%) and predominantly from the B40 income class (88.1%). The overall mean patient satisfaction score was 3.83 ± 0.31. There were significant associations between overall satisfaction with patient education level (B = -0.144; 95% CI -0.246, -0.042; p = 0.006), waiting time (B = -0.371; 95% CI -0.534, -0.209; p = 0.001) and consultation duration (B = -0.154; 95% CI -0.253, -0.055; p = 0.0020). It was found that patients with secondary education were less satisfied compared to patients with primary education level on health care services they received. Meanwhile, those who were not happy with the waiting time and consultation duration showed less satisfaction with overall healthcare services.

METHODS: We performed a pooled analysis of individual patient data from cohort studies that included consecutive patients with ischemic stroke aged 18-50 years. We studied differences in prevalence of risk factors and causes of ischemic stroke between different ethnic and racial groups, geographic regions, and countries with different income levels. We investigated differences in 3-month mortality by mixed-effects multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS: We included 17,663 patients from 32 cohorts in 29 countries. Hypertension and diabetes were most prevalent in Black (hypertension, 52.1%; diabetes, 20.7%) and Asian patients (hypertension 46.1%, diabetes, 20.9%). Large vessel atherosclerosis and small vessel disease were more often the cause of stroke in high-income countries (HICs; both p < 0.001), whereas "other determined stroke" and "undetermined stroke" were higher in low and middle-income countries (LMICs; both p < 0.001). Patients in LMICs were younger, had less vascular risk factors, and despite this, more often died within 3 months than those from HICs (odds ratio 2.49; 95% confidence interval 1.42-4.36).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Global Outcome Assessment Life-long after stroke in young adults (GOAL) initiative aims to perform a global individual patient data meta-analysis with existing data from young stroke cohorts worldwide. All patients aged 18-50 years with ischaemic stroke or intracerebral haemorrhage will be included. Outcomes will be the distribution of stroke aetiology and (vascular) risk factors, functional outcome after stroke, risk of recurrent vascular events and death and finally the use of secondary prevention. Subgroup analyses will be made based on age, gender, aetiology, ethnicity and climate of residence.