Stroke epidemiology and one-month fatality among an urban population in Iran

Objective Stroke is one of the most common causes of death and disability in Iran. This study evaluated stroke patient profiles with respect to rate, risk factors, and one-month fatality. Material and method A cross-sectional, hospital-based study on all stroke patients older than 45 years admitted to hospitals in the city of Qom throughout 2001. Results Four hundred and sixty patients older than 45 years were admitted as stroke. The annual stroke rate was estimated to 338/100 000 (95% confidence interval, 300-360) inhabitants older than 45 years. The annual rate of stroke was 384/100 000 (95% confidence interval, 381-386) when adjusted to the European population. Stroke subtypes were; ischaemic infarction 75%, intracranial haemorrhage 20 center dot 7%, subarachnoid haemorrhage 3%, and undetermined 1 center dot 3%. Main risk factors were hypertension in 74 center dot 6% and diabetes in 55 center dot 7%. Mortality rate was 24 center dot 6% within the first month. Conclusion Stroke incidence was higher than in Western countries. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were considerably more frequent in our studied stroke patients than in other developing countries. Our findings need to be addressed in future health education programmes in Iran identifying patients at risk and focusing on more aggressive prevention programmes to lower stroke incidence.