[A comprehansive evaluation on stroke prevalence among elderly in urban and rural areas of Beijing, 2002].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence and disability of stroke as well as the stroke-related diseases among elderly in urban and rural regions of Beijing.


METHODS
In 2002, three communities were selected from urban, suburb and rural regions from Beijing areas, respectively. Twenty percent of the elderly were randomly selected from three communities. The information about history of stroke, hypertension, heart diseases and diabetes, self-rated health (SRH), activity of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL), smoking and drinking habits, knowledge about cardiovascular diseases prevention were collected.


RESULTS
A total of 2487 elderly were interviewed and the prevalence of stroke was 12.9% (321/2481). Eighty-seven of the stroke patients were diagnosed by CT/MRI. 19.9% of stroke patients had experienced 2 or more attacks. The highest prevalence of stroke was in the urban region and the lowest in the rural region (16.9% vs. 8.5%, P for trend < 0.01) while it was higher in males than in females (P < 0.05). The prevalence of stroke tended to increase with age in urban and 34.6% of the stroke patients had recovered completely. The proportions of poor SRH, ADL and IADL dependence, as well as the prevalences of hypertension, heart diseases and diabetes were higher among the elderly with stroke than those without. Although rates of awareness and treatment of hypertension were at the high levels among the elderly with stroke , the control rate was low, especially in the rural region (as low as 4.3%). The level of knowledge on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, and the rates of smoking and drinking were similar between the elderly with or without stroke.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of stroke had increased dramatically during the past decade in Beijing. The proportion of poor SHR, ADL and IADL dependence, prevalence rates of stroke related diseases were higher among the elderly with stroke than those without. Secondary prevention of stroke among Beijing elderly called for urgent action.
Liu
Hong-jun
HJ
Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Science, Beijing 100053, China.
Fang
Xiang-hua
XH
Zhang
Guo-feng
GF
Huang
Wei-zu
WZ
Ping
Guang-yu
GY
Tang
Zhe
Z
Wu
Xiao-guang
XG
Zhou
Hong
H
Li
Ning-yan
NY
Wang
Wei-shan
WS
Diao
Li-jun
LJ
Sun
Fei
F
D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*