Study of Stroke Incidence in the Aseer Region, Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Adel A Alhazzani,Aesha Faraheen,Razia Aftab,Shamsun Nahar Khalil,Nabil J Awadalla,Ahmed A Mahfouz,Ahmed Y Abolyazid

doi:10.3390/ijerph15020215

Abstract

Recent data regarding first-stroke incidence in Saudi Arabia in general and in the Aseer region in particular are scarce and even lacking. The aim of this work was to study the first-time stroke incidence in the Aseer region, southwestern Saudi Arabia. All first-stroke patients admitted to all hospitals in the Aseer region over a one-year period (January through December 2016) were included. Stroke patients outside the Aseer region were excluded from the study. The incidence per 100,000 patients and the concomitant 95% CI (Confidence Intervals) were computed. The present study included 1249 first-time stroke patients and calculated an overall minimal incidence rate of hospitalized first-time stroke of 57.64 per 100,000 persons per year (95% CI: 57.57–57.70). A steady increase was noticed depending on the patients' age, reaching a figure of 851.81 (95% CI: 849.2–854.5) for those patients aged 70 years and more. Overall, the incidence rate for females (48.14; 95% CI: 48.04–48.24) was lower compared to males (65.52; 95% CI: 65.1–66.0). Taking into consideration the expected rise of the elderly because of the prominent medical services provided by the Saudi government, leading to a subsequent change in the horizontal and vertical age distribution structure of the population, an increase in the number of stroke patients is expected. It is suggested to establish a nationwide stroke surveillance system in the Kingdom, with the objective to report, analyze, and maintain an updated overview of the stroke status in Saudi Arabia.

Highlights

The burden of stroke has increased rapidly over the past two decades [1]
The stroke case definition adopted in the present study described stroke as a focal neurological deficit due to cerebral infarction or hemorrhage, confirmed by computed tomography (CT) scan or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
The present study included 1249 first-time stroke patients admitted to the study hospitals during the study period from 1 January 2016 till 31 December 2016

Summary

Introduction

The burden of stroke has increased rapidly over the past two decades [1]. Stroke has been estimated as the second leading cause of death and disability-adjusted life years [2,3].Current epidemiological data indicate that 16.9 million people suffer a stroke each year, providing a global incidence of 258/100,000 persons/year and accounting for 11.8% of total deaths worldwide [3,4].The Middle East region faces a variable burden of stroke. The burden of stroke has increased rapidly over the past two decades [1]. Stroke has been estimated as the second leading cause of death and disability-adjusted life years [2,3]. Current epidemiological data indicate that 16.9 million people suffer a stroke each year, providing a global incidence of 258/100,000 persons/year and accounting for 11.8% of total deaths worldwide [3,4]. The incidence rate for all strokes ranged between 22.7 and 250 per 100,000 people per year in this region [5]. Because of the dramatic transformation of the social, economic, and environmental conditions over the past few decades in this region, the lifestyle has changed rapidly, which has caused a transition to a high burden of stroke

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