title: Stroke incidence in the South West District of the Penang Island, Malaysia: PEARLs: Penang Acute Stroke Research Longitudinal Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This community based incidence study aims to report the stroke incidence in the south-west region of the Penang Island.
  
  
  METHODS
  All strokes occurring in the population of residents in the southwest region of the Penang Island, Malaysia during a period of 12 months, from April 2010 to March 2011 were screened and assessed. Standard definitions for stroke were used. All stroke cases were ascertained using multiple overlapping sources. Incidence rate was based on first ever in a lifetime stroke cases. All recurrent strokes were excluded from the incidence count.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall stroke incidence rate in the study region during the study period was 67 per 100,000 after age adjustment to 2010 Malaysian population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides the first stroke incidence data in Malaysia and is vital for effective health system planning.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Centre, Hospital Pulau Pinang, Penang, Malaysia. Electronic address: nmalinee.79@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Malinee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neelamegam
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Looi
authors.forename: Wee Kooi
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Cheah
authors.forename: Punithavathi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Narayanan
authors.forename: Abdul Muneer Abdul
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.forename: Loke Meng
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cerebrovascular accident; Epidemiology; Incidence; Stroke