Prevalence of stroke and transient ischaemic attack in the elderly population of an Italian rural community.

Abstract

To evaluate the prevalence of stroke and transient ischaemic attack in the elderly population, including the oldest residents, of a rural Italian community. A door-to-door survey was performed between April and October 2001 in 2390 subjects aged 65 years and over. A symptom questionnaire validated by medical records and neurological examination was employed. Complete information was available for 2260 subjects. The overall prevalence of stroke was 8.2% in males and 5.1% in females. In the very elderly, this increased to 10.7% in males and 10% in females and decreased only in males aged 90 years or over. The overall prevalence of transient ischaemic attack was 7% in males and 4.9% in females. This, too, increased with age, reaching 10.2% in males and 7.4% in females and decreased only in subjects of both sexes aged 85 years or over. An actual estimate of the high prevalence of cerebrovascular disease in the elderly population, even in very old subjects, was thus achieved. Appropriate health care services consequently need to be planned.