Incidence of subarachnoid haemorrhage in the Aconcagua Valley, Chile: a community-based, prospective surveillance project.
BACKGROUND
An epidemiological surveillance project was set up in Central Chile to detect cases of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and its incidence.


METHODS
Community-based prospective surveillance project carried out between 1 July 2000 and 30 June 2003, in the Aconcagua Valley in Central Chile. The authors ascertained all possible cases using multiple overlapping sources. Incidence rates were age-sex-adjusted.


RESULTS
The authors identified 33 first-ever cases; 19 were women. The mean age (SD, range) was 50.7 (17.9, 16 to 82). The incidence per 100,000 age-sex adjusted to the world population was 5.1 (4.4 men, 5.6 women). The 30-day case-death rate was 54.5% (95% CI 38.0 to 70.2), and the prehospital death rate 21.2% (95% CI 10.7 to 37.7).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence rate in Aconcagua is notably similar to that reported previously in Northern Chile and lower than in many high-income western populations. The lower incidence rates found in these two Chilean populations might be due to their younger age. A trend towards a higher 30-day case-death rate found in Central Chile is possibly associated with its higher rurality and therefore lesser accessibility to preventive measures and medical care.
Alvarez
Gonzalo
G
Servicio de Neurologia, Hospital del Salvador, Santiago, Chile.
Cox
Pablo
P
Pairoa
Mauricio
M
García
Maritza
M
Delgado
Iris
I
Lavados
Pablo M
PM
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult