Evidence for age-dependent education-related differences in men and women with first-ever stroke. Results from a community-based incidence study in northern Sweden.
Several studies have shown a relationship between low socioeconomic status, age and stroke mortality. However, there is lack of similar studies in relation to stroke incidence. All cases of first-ever stroke occurring in a population aged 35-85 years from the city of Umeå were collected from hospital-based registers during a 2-year study period (2000-2002), from death certificates and also from nursing homes during a 6-month period. The WHO definition of stroke was used. Register data served to analyze educational level. A total of 457 first-ever strokes (244 women and 213 men) were registered, corresponding to an overall annual incidence rate of first-ever stroke of 413.4 per 100,000. The incidence of first-ever stroke was significantly higher among low-educated compared to high-educated men and women. The highest stroke incidence was found among low-educated women aged 75-85 years. The educational-related differences in stroke incidence persisted in the oldest age group (75-85 years), also after controlling for sex and age. This is one of the first studies that analyzes first-ever stroke incidence also among elderly men and women (75-85 years) in relation to socioeconomic status. More community-based studies are needed in order to confirm the results.
Löfmark
Ulrika
U
Family Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. ulrika.lofmark@fammed.umu.se
Hammarström
Anne
A
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology