Prognosis of stroke in the south of Greece: 1 year mortality, functional outcome and its determinants: the Arcadia Stroke Registry.

OBJECTIVES: For Greece, data on incidence of stroke, type of stroke, and prognosis of stroke is limited. Recently, results on incidence of stroke were published. Here 1 year mortality, functional outcome after a first ever stroke, and determinants of the prognosis are described. METHODS: A population based registry was established in the Arcadia area, located in eastern central Peloponessos in southern Greece. Between 1 November 1993 and 31 October 1995, 555 patients with a first ever stroke were identified using information from death certificates, hospital records, public health centres and general practitioners. Extensive information on cardiovascular risk factors and stroke characteristics was obtained. After 1 year a modified Rankin score was determined in all surviving patients. RESULTS: After 1 year of follow up, 204 (36.8%) patients died. The probability of survival 1 year after stroke was higher for cerebral infarction than for intracerebral haemorrhage; 67.8% (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 64-72) and 46.4% (35-57), respectively. Of the survivors, 68.9% had either no symptoms or symptoms that would not interfere with their capacity to look after themselves (Rankin score 0 to 2). Increasing age and low Glasgow coma scale score were the most powerful predictors of death within 1 year (p<0.01), whereas increasing age, atrial fibrillation, and low Glasgow coma scale score were the most important predictors of functional outcome 1 year after a stroke (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: One year mortality from stroke in Greece is similar to that of other industrialised countries. The most important factors that affect the prognosis of a patient with a first ever stroke are increasing age, stroke severity, and atrial fibrillation.

Stroke incidence and case fatality in southern Greece: the Arcadia stroke registry.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: For Greece, information on incidence of stroke and distribution of type of stroke has not been reported. We determined the incidence of first-ever stroke in men and women, the incidence of stroke by type, and the associated case fatality. METHODS: A population-based registry was established in the Arcadia province, located in eastern central Peloponessos, in the southern part of Greece. Between November 1, 1993, and October 31, 1995, all subjects with a first-ever stroke were identified. For case ascertainment, information from death certificates, hospital records, public health centers, and general practitioners was used. RESULTS: During a 24-month period, 555 subjects with a first-ever stroke were registered. The incidence rates (per 100 000) by age group (18 to 34, 35 to 44, 45 to 54, 55 to 64, 65 to 74, 75 to 84, >/=85 years) for men were 5, 31, 113, 240, 662, 1275, and 3218, respectively. For women, the rates were 11, 18, 48, 196, 478, 1166, and 2137, respectively. Age- and sex-standardized to the European population, the annual incidence rate for subjects aged 45 to 84 years was 319.4/100 000 (95% CI, 283 to 356). In men, cerebral infarction was diagnosed in 81% of cases, intracerebral hemorrhage in 16%, and subarachnoid hemorrhage in 2%. For women, these figures were 85%, 12%, and 3%, respectively. The 28-day case fatality rate was 26.6% (95% CI, 22.9% to 30.2%), with no differences between men and women. Case-fatality increased with age and was higher for intracerebral hemorrhage than for cerebral infarction. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of stroke in our population-based study ranks low part compared with other European studies. The distribution of stroke types and case fatality rate appear to be similar to those of other industrialized countries.