Published Online
on June 22, 2006

A more recent version of this article appeared on August 1, 2006

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Submitted on October 13, 2005
Revised on December 14, 2005
Accepted on February 21, 2006

Estimation of the Risk of Stroke in Black Populations in Barbados and South London

Charles D.A. Wolfe MD^*; David O.C. Corbin FRCP; Nigel C. Smeeton MSc; Glenda H.E. Gay MSc; Anthony G. Rudd FRCP; Anselm J. Hennis PhD, FRCP; Rainford J. Wilks FRCP; and Henry S. Fraser FRCP

From the King’s College London (C.D.A.W., N.C.S.), Division of Health and Social Care, London, UK; the Chronic Disease Research Centre/Tropical Medicine Research Institute and School of Clinical Medicine & Research (D.O.C.C., G.H.E.G., A.J.H., H.S.F.), University of the West Indies, Barbados; Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Foundation Trust (A.G.R.), St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK; Tropical Medicine Research Institute and School of Clinical Medicine & Research (R.J.W.), University of the West Indies, Jamaica.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: charles.wolfe{at}kcl.ac.uk.

Background and Purpose--The incidence of stroke in black populations is a public health issue, but how risk varies between black communities is unclear.

Methods--Population-based registers in South London (SLSR) and Barbados (Barbados Register of Strokes [BROS]). Stroke incidence estimated by age group, gender and stroke subtype from January 1995 to December 2002 (SLSR), and October 2001 to September 2003 (BROS). Incidence rate ratios [IRR] estimated adjusting for age and sex.

Results--Two hundred and seventy-one cases registered in SLSR and 628 cases in BROS. Average age of stroke was 66.1 years (SD 13.7) in SLSR and 71.5 years (SD 14.9) in BROS (P<0.001). The incidence rate/1000 population in SLSR was 1.61 (European adjusted; 95% CI, 1.41 to 1.81) and 1.08 (world adjusted; 95% CI, 0.95 to 1.21). For Barbados incidence rates were 1.29 (European adjusted; 95% CI, 1.19 to1.39) and 0.85 (world adjusted; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.92). Overall IRR for SLSR: BROS adjusted for age and sex was 1.26 (95% CI, 1.09 to 1.46). Statistically significant subtype differences included total anterior cerebral infarction (IRR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.23 to 2.69), posterior cerebral infarction (IRR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.28 to 3.53), primary intracerebral hemorrhage (IRR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.35) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (IRR, 5.04; 95% CI, 2.54 to 9.97).

Conclusions--The risk of stroke in black Caribbeans is higher in South London than Barbados, and particularly so for specific stroke subtypes. The risk in Barbados approaches that in the white population in South London and strokes occur at an older age. Whether environmental factors mediate these differences in migrant populations requires further study.

Key words: ethnicity • incidence • stroke

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