title: Epidemiology of stroke in Italy.
abstract: This study reviews available data on stroke epidemiology in Italy. Data were identified through Medline/PubMed, Embase, and from reference lists, related articles, and citation lists of each of the retrieved papers. Nineteen papers were considered, referring to selected stroke-registers performed in seven different geographical areas: Acquaviva-Casamassima county, Aeolian Islands, Aosta district, Belluno district, L'Aquila district, Trasimeno area, and Vibo Valentia district. Registers covered a total population of 2 262 940 people, with a hospitalization rate from 82% to 98%. The mean age at stroke onset was 74·6 ± 1·1 years, 72·3 years in men and 76·6 years in women. Among all strokes: • 67·3-82·6% were classified ischemic • 9·9-19·6% as primary intracerebral hemorrhage • 1·6-4·0% as sub-arachnoid hemorrhage, and • 1·2-17·7% as undetermined. Annual incidence rates standardized to the Italian population ranged from 175/1 00 000 to 360/1 00 000 in men and from 130/1 00 000 to 273/1 00 000 in women. Thirty-day case-fatality rates for all strokes ranged from 18·1% to 33·0% while one-year case-fatality rates ranged from 37·9% to 40·2%. Data from selected Italian registers on stroke incidence and case-fatality indicate the great burden of the disease on our national healthcare system. The continuous implementation of preventive strategies, either population-based or addressed to the single patient at a high risk of stroke, is important to reduce the burden of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stracci
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cerone
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carolei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011153:Population; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012802:Sicily / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed