RESUMO
Background: Stroke is the most common specific cause of death in Chile since 2008, representing roughly 10% of total deaths in the country. Aim: To analyze hospital discharges with a diagnosis of stroke in the period 2001-2010 in a regional Chilean health service. Material and Methods: Analysis of hospital discharge databases of the department of statistics and health information (DEIS) of the Chilean Ministry of Health for the years 2001-2010. All subjects aged over 15 years and discharged with a diagnosis of stroke during the period 2001-2010 in a southern Chilean region, were included in the study. Results: In the period, 6,548 hospital discharges due to stroke were registered. The most common diagnoses were ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, followed by intracranial hemorrhage. Hospital stay fluctuated between one and ten days in 77% of patients. The incidence rate of stroke as a discharge diagnosis was 961.3 per 100,000 population per year (95% Confidence intervals 950.7- 972.4). Conclusions: The information collected allows updating the information regarding hospital discharges due to stroke in the region studied.