Declining Rate and Severity of Hospitalized Stroke From 2004 to 2013 [Clinical Sciences]

Background and Purpose—Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and disability. We assessed trends in rates of hospitalized stroke and stroke severity on admission in a prospective national registry of stroke from 2004 to 2013.Methods—All 6693 acute ischemic strokes and intracerebral hemorrhage in the National Acute Stroke Israeli participants ≥20 years old were included. Data were prospectively collected in 2004 (February–March), 2007 (March–April), 2010 (April–May), and 2013 (March–April). Rates of hospitalized stroke from 2004 to 2013 were studied using generalized linear models assuming a quasi-Poisson error distribution with a log link. Stroke severity on admission was determined using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and trends were studied. Analysis was performed for stroke overall and by sex and age-group as well as by stroke type.Results—Estimated average annual rates of hospitalized stroke decreased from 24.9/10 000 in 2004 to 19.5/10 000 in 2013. The age and sex-adjusted rates ratio (95% confidence interval) for hospitalized stroke overall was 0.82 (0.76–0.89) for 2007, 0.71 (0.65–0.77) for 2010, and 0.72 (0.66–0.78) for 2013 compared with 2004. Severity on admission decreased over time: rates (95% confidence interval) of severe stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of ≥11) decreased from 27% (25%–29%) in 2004 to 19% (17%–21%) in 2013, whereas rates (95% confidence interval) of minor stroke (Natio...
Source: Stroke - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Cardiovascular Disease, Epidemiology, Intracranial Hemorrhage, Ischemic Stroke Original Contributions Source Type: research