Objective: To investigate initial stroke young and middle-aged patients’ health literacy and current status of their intentional delay to see the doctor, and to explore the impact of health literacy on intentional delay to see the doctor. Methods: We carried out a questionnaire survey on 107 young and middle-aged patients with initial stroke in a Grade III, Class A hospital in Guangzhou with a self-designed general situation questionnaire, a health literacy questionnaire and a SPDBI. Results: The SPDBI score of initial stroke young and middle-aged patients was 94.72±14.35; the total score and score of each dimension were significantly higher than national norm. The score of health literacy was 123.86±25.47; the total score and score of basic health care were significantly higher than national norm. Patient’s health literacy score was positively correlated with SPDBI score and the score of each dimension (P<0.05). Hierarchical regression analysis showed that health knowledge, health behavior and health belief and health skills of health literacy were separate influencing factors of intentional delay to see the doctor (P<0.05). Conclusion: Initial stroke young and middle-aged patients’ inadequate health literacy is an important reason of intentional delay to see the doctor. It is requested that clinical medical workers strengthen patients’ health education, so as to lead patients to going to see the doctor in time and improve the clinical therapeutic effect.