title: Incidence and survival of symptomatic lacunar infarction in a Beijing population: a 6-year prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The incidence of ischaemic stroke has increased or remained high in China; however, little population-based evidence is available on the incidence and survival of lacunar infarction (LAC). We examined the incidence of LAC in a northern Chinese (Beijing) population and monitored survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective registry population-based study was conducted over a 6-year period in a general, unselected, and representative community in Beijing with approximately 100,000 long-term permanent residents. All first-ever stroke cases were registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1184 patients with ischaemic stroke were identified; 36.9% (437 cases) were classified as LAC. Age-standardized incidence rates of LAC ranged from 24.0 to 51.3/100,000 with an average rate of 35.3/100,000 during study period. The incidence of LAC increased with age before 70 years. The incidence of non-LAC increased with age. There were no significant differences in crude incidence of LAC between men and women (78.4/100,000 vs. 75.4/100,000). The incidence of non-LAC was significantly higher in men than in women (155/100,000 vs. 107/100,000, P < 0.001). The 28-day case fatality proportions were significantly lower in patients with LAC (0.5%) versus non-LAC (14.9%). One year after acute stroke onset, the survival rates between LAC and non-LAC were similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LAC is a common stroke subtype in Northern China. Men or the elderly are more likely to have non-LAC. Long-term survival following LAC is similar to non-LAC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Evidence-based Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: X-H
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: W-H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: X-Q
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: H-M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: X-M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Z-C
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: X-M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: L-M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D059409:Stroke, Lacunar / Q000453:epidemiology*