title: Prevalence of stroke and post-stroke cognitive impairment in the elderly in Dharavi, Mumbai.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lack of information is a major hurdle in combating stroke mortality and morbidity in India. This survey was undertaken in a slum area in Dharavi, Mumbai, to study the prevalence of stroke and post-stroke cognitive impairment in the elderly aged 60 years and above.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants selected using systematic random sampling of households, were interviewed using a modified version of the World Health Organization Protocol for Screening of Neurological Diseases. Stroke was confirmed through clinical examination, medical records review and interviews with caregivers. Cognitive impairment was assessed using Addenbrooke's scale and Mini mental status examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants comprised 730 men and 996 women. Confirmed stroke in 66 individuals yielded a crude prevalence rate of 3.82% (95% CI 3.01 - 4.84); the prevalence standardized to WHO world population was 4.87% (95% CI 3.76 - 6.23). Prevalence rates increased with age and were higher in men than in women. Out of 27 stroke survivors evaluated for cognitive dysfunction, 18 (66.66%) had MMSE scores of less than 24.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stroke prevalence in slum-dwellers is comparable to that of other sections of society. Prevalence rates in this study are higher than rates seen in previous Indian studies, possibly due to the combined effects of population ageing with increased incidence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, which also affect cognitive functions in stroke survivors.
authors.affiliation: Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Fort, KR Road, Bangalore 560002.
authors.forename: Amita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mukhopadhyay
authors.forename: Uma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sundar
authors.forename: Sikandar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adwani
authors.forename: Daksha
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pandit
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011204:Poverty Areas; D015995:Prevalence; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*