Prevalence of Stroke in an Argentine Community

Abstract

To determine the prevalence of stroke and its distribution by age, sex and clinical type, and to use the outcomes for prevention, care and rehabilitation. The survey was conducted in Junín, a town of about 75,000 inhabitants, situated in an agricultural region of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Systematic sampling was used to select 5,839 dwellings (sampling fraction approximately 25%) and 5,648 (97%) households participated in our study, including 17,049 participants. The initial stage of the study involved a case-finding strategy consisting of a two-stage screening approach in the selected households; household screening was followed by neurological examination. We used a point prevalence with reference date January 1, 1991. Stroke was defined according to the WHO criteria. As of January 1, 1991, 148 subjects were identified as cases of stroke (79.6% ischemic and 20.4% hemorrhagic). Point prevalence ratio was 868.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the total population (473.4/100,000 age adjusted to the worldwide population) and 1,867.4 in those patients of 40 years of age or older (1,534.4/100,000 age adjusted to the worldwide population). In both sexes, prevalence increased with age. However, this increase was more significant and sustained in men of 50 years of age and older. Moderate to severe disability was observed in 52% of patients. This is one of the first community-based studies conducted in Argentina about the prevalence of stroke. Final results are similar to those reported in other developed countries.