[An analysis of stroke subtypes and influencing factors in different regions of China].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the stroke subtypes and influencing factors in four largest economic regions of China.


METHODS
We analyzed the investigation data of QUEST (Quality Evaluation of Stroke Care and Treatment) study conducted in 2006 which included 62 hospitals in a national scale. According to the concept of four economic regions designed by the Development Research Center of the State Council, we performed the univariate and multivariate analysis for the stroke subtypes and its related risk factors in the different economic regions.


RESULTS
There were 3362 (73.5%) ischemic stroke patients and 1214 (26.5%) hemorrhagic stroke patients among the total 4576 first-ever stroke patients. Comparison of stroke subtypes in the four different economic regions was statistically significant (P < 0.001), with a percentage of 80.8% ischemic stroke patients in the northeastern region, 78.9% in the eastern region, 68.3% in the central region and 67.0% in the western region. The comparisons of risk factors such as history of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, coronary artery event, atrial fibrillation, and overweight in the four different economic regions were also statistically significant (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The subtypes of first-ever stroke vary in the four largest economic regions with a highest proportion of ischemic stroke in the northeastern region and relatively high proportion of hemorrhagic stroke in the central and western economic regions. There are also discrepancies of stroke risk factors in the different economic regions.
Department of Neurology, Peking University the First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
Hai-qiang
HQ
Jin
Sai-nan
SN
Zhu
Hong-jun
HJ
Hao
Yong-an
YA
Sun
Yi-ning
YN
Huang
D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*