This Article Full Text Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fuh, J.L. Articles by Liu, H.C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fuh, J.L. Articles by Liu, H.C.

(Stroke. 1996;27:1338-1341.)
© 1996 American Heart Association, Inc.

Articles

Prevalence of Stroke in Kinmen

J.L. Fuh, MD; S.J. Wang, MD; E.B. Larson, MD H.C. Liu, MD

the Neurological Institute, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, and National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, and the Department of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle (E.B.L.).

Background and Purpose Stroke is the second most common cause of death in Taiwan. We studied its prevalence, risk factors, and mortality in a rural Chinese population.

Methods A door-to-door survey of stroke was conducted in two Kinmen Island townships with a total population of 26 105 people. Our target population (n=5061) consisted of all the registered residents in these townships who were aged 50 years on August 1, 1993. All participants were given a standardized neurological examination and a questionnaire.

Results The participation rate was 77.4% (n=3915). Ninety-six cases of completed stroke were identified. Eighty-nine patients had one, 6 patients had two, and 1 patient had three episodes of stroke. The prevalence of stroke in persons aged 50 years was 24.5 per 1000 (95% confidence interval, 19.7 to 29.3 per 1000). Prevalence increased with age. Statistically significant risk factors associated with stroke included hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and irregular heartbeats. Of the stroke survivors, 59% were independent in activities of daily living and 71% could walk independently.

Conclusions Compared with other countries, Taiwan has a moderately high prevalence of stroke. The risk factors for stroke in this rural region of a developing country are similar to those in developed countries. Most stroke survivors here perform their daily activities independently without outside assistance.

Key Words: cerebrovascular disorders • epidemiology • Taiwan

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Venketasubramanian, L. C.S. Tan, S. Sahadevan, J. J. Chin, E. S. Krishnamoorthy, C. Y. Hong, and S. M. Saw Prevalence of Stroke Among Chinese, Malay, and Indian Singaporeans: A Community-Based Tri-Racial Cross-Sectional Survey Stroke, March 1, 2005; 36(3): 551 - 556. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S.-L. Wang, W.-H. Pan, M.-C. Lee, S.-P. Cheng, and M.-C. Chang Predictors of Survival Among Elders Suffering Strokes in Taiwan : Observation From a Nationally Representative Sample Stroke, October 1, 2000; 31(10): 2354 - 2360. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Nicoletti, V. Sofia, S. Giuffrida, A. Bartoloni, F. Bartalesi, M. L. L. Bartolo, S. L. Fermo, V. Cocuzza, H. Gamboa, E. Salazar, et al. Prevalence of Stroke : A Door-to-Door Survey in Rural Bolivia Stroke, April 1, 2000; 31(4): 882 - 885. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Zhu, L. Fratiglioni, Z. Guo, H. Aguero-Torres, B. Winblad, and M. Viitanen Association of Stroke With Dementia, Cognitive Impairment, and Functional Disability in the Very Old : A Population-Based Study Stroke, October 1, 1998; 29(10): 2094 - 2099. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]