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. 2019 Jun;266(6):1449-1458.
doi: 10.1007/s00415-019-09281-5. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Prevalence and risk factors of stroke in the elderly in Northern China: data from the National Stroke Screening Survey

Xiaoshuang Xia #  1 , Wei Yue #  2 , Baohua Chao  3 , Mei Li  4 , Lei Cao  3 , Lin Wang  5 , Ying Shen  6 , Xin Li  7
Affiliations

Prevalence and risk factors of stroke in the elderly in Northern China: data from the National Stroke Screening Survey

Xiaoshuang Xia et al. J Neurol. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

Background: The overall global burden of stroke is considerable and increasing. In China, stroke is the leading cause of death and disability.

Methods: For this study, we used data from the National Stroke Screening Survey in 2012 and the 2010 Chinese population from sixth National Census of Populations to calculate a standardized (by age, gender, and education) stroke prevalence. Prevalence, risk factors, and management of stroke were compared by gender, age, and site.

Findings: The standardized prevalence rate of survival stroke patients in study population aged 60 and older was 4.94% in total. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for stroke. Compared to men, women were more likely to have diabetes, obesity, elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and atrial fibrillation (P < 0.05). Men were far more likely to drink and smoke than women (P < 0.05). The rates of diabetes and atrial fibrillation were substantially higher in urban than those in rural stroke survivors (P < 0.05). Rural stroke survivors exhibited higher rates of smoking and alcohol consumption than urban stroke survivors (P < 0.05).

Interpretation: The stroke prevalence in China is in line with median worldwide stroke prevalence. Traditional risk factors remain highly prevalent in stroke survivors, among which hypertension was the most common. Stroke prevalence rates and risk factors varied by age, sex, and sociogeological factors.

Keywords: Elderly; Prevalence; Risk factors; Stroke.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical standards

The study protocol was approved by the Ethics committee of Nation Project Office of Stroke Prevention and Control of Ministry of Health (Beijing, China).

Informed consent

Subjects have given their written informed consent. The study protocol has been approved by the research institute’s committee on human research.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of subjects recruited into the study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Stroke prevalence among patients aged 60 years and older in Northern China. We calculated the standardized stroke prevalence (for age, sex, and education) using the 2010 Chinese population from sixth National Census of Population
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Main risk factors for stroke in stroke survivors. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for stroke. Compared with men, women were more likely to have diabetes, obesity, elevated LDL-C, and atrial fibrillation (P < 0.05). Men were far more likely than women to drink and smoke (P < 0.05). No significant gender difference was detected in hypertension or physical inactivity (P > 0.05)
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