title: Trends in stroke admissions to a Tanzanian hospital over four decades: a retrospective audit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to record stroke admissions to a tertiary referral hospital in Tanzania over four decades.
  
  
  METHODS
  We audited the medical records held at a large teaching and tertiary referral hospital in northern Tanzania over four decades. We collected records for the years 1974-1976, 1984-1986, 1994-1995 and 2008. All patients admitted as inpatients with a primary diagnosis of stroke were included in the study. Data collected included age, sex, stroke subtype, predominant side of symptoms and survival to discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of stroke admissions rose from just four in the three-year period 1974-1976 (mean 1.3 cases annually) to 153 cases annually in 2008. The mean age of those admitted rose steadily during this period, as did the proportion of females admitted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The burden of stroke on health services in Tanzania appears to have increased rapidly. If this increase is to be slowed, then sustainable primary preventative measures to target known stroke risk factors will be required.
authors.affiliation: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields, UK.|Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Viney
authors.affiliation: The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Manasseh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mawanswila
authors.affiliation: Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Venance P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Maro
authors.affiliation: The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gjertsen
authors.affiliation: The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Godfrey
authors.affiliation: The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smailes
authors.affiliation: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields, UK.
authors.forename: William K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Africa; Afrique; Afrique subsaharienne; Epidemiología; Sub-Saharan Africa; Tanzania; Tanzania, admisiones hospitalarias; Tanzanie; admissions hospitalières; enfermedades no transmisibles; epidemiology; hospital admissions; ictus; maladies; maladies non transmissibles; non-communicable disease; stroke; África; África subsahariana; épidémiologie