Incidence and predictors of post-stroke aphasia: the Arcadia Stroke Registry.
OBJECTIVE
Aphasia is an important post-stroke sequela. We estimated the prevalence and main determinants of post-stroke aphasia in the prefecture of Arcadia, Greece.


METHODS
Prospective population-based study of Arcadia residents diagnosed with first ever stroke. within a 2 year period. Associations of aphasia with potential predictors were analysed by logistic regression in: (i) the entire cohort and (ii) the sub-cohort of patients who were alive 28 days post-stroke. Multivariate regression models were adjusted for left hemispheric stroke localization and modified Rankin Scale 28 days post-stroke (MRS-1mo).


RESULTS
Of 555 subjects, 126 (22.7%) suffered from aphasia. When only the 405 survivors were considered, 77 (19.0%) suffered from aphasia. In adjusted multivariate models of the entire cohort, factors conferring significantly higher risk for aphasia included female gender, diabetes mellitus (borderline significance) and heart disease. In adjusted multivariate models of survivors, only diabetes was associated with significantly higher risk for aphasia.


CONCLUSIONS
Female gender, diabetes and heart disease were independent prospective predictors of aphasia. The study offers a quantitative estimate of the public health problem of post-stroke aphasia in Greece and suggests that the role of diabetes in post-stroke aphasia may be more important than previously appreciated.
Kyrozis
A
A
Department of Neurology, University of Athens, 'Eginition' Hospital, 74 Vas. Sophias Avenue, Athens 11528, Greece. andr_kyr@otenet.gr
Potagas
C
C
Ghika
A
A
Tsimpouris
P K
PK
Virvidaki
E S
ES
Vemmos
K N
KN
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001037:Aphasia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*