First-ever stroke incidence and 30-day case fatality in the Sicilian Aeolian archipelago, Italy.
OBJECTIVE
Not many data on stroke epidemiology come from studies on islands. This is the first report on a Mediterranean archipelago population.


METHODS
Using recommended criteria, from July 1, 1999, to June 30, 2002, information was collected on first-ever stroke and 30-day case fatality in Aeolian island residents (13,431).


RESULTS
The overall crude incidence rate was 154 of 100,000 (95% CI, 118 to 197; 128 in men and 180 in women) or 180, 154, and 87, if adjusted to the Italian, European, and world populations, respectively. The 30-day case fatality rate was 24.2% (95% CI, 14.22 to 36.75).


CONCLUSIONS
Besides genetic or dietary factors, our results may reflect local, limited possibilities of diagnosis and management for stroke patients.
Musolino
Rosa
R
Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psichiatriche e Anestesiologiche, Cl. Neurologica I, Policlinico Universitario di Messina, Italy. Rosa.Musolino@unime.it
La Spina
Paolino
P
Serra
Salvatore
S
Postorino
Paolo
P
Calabró
Salvatore
S
Savica
Rodolfo
R
Salemi
Giovanni
G
Gallitto
Giuseppe
G
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology