Epidemiology and clinical presentation of stroke in Upper Egypt (desert area).
BACKGROUND
Stroke is a common cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Four out of five strokes occur in the low- and middle-income countries. This study aims to find lifetime prevalence of stroke in Upper Egypt and to identify clinical presentations and possible risk factors of stroke in this population.


METHODS
This is a door-to-door (every door) study conducted on all inhabitants in Al Kharga district (representative of western desert) and Al Quseir city (representative of eastern desert). The study was conducted in two stages, and every stage consisted of three phases (screening, diagnostic, and investigatory).


RESULTS
The total lifetime prevalence of stroke was 8.5/1,000 in the population aged 20 years and more. It increased with advancing age and was higher among males than females among all age groups except in the childbearing period (20 years to <40 years of age). Lifetime prevalence of ischemic stroke (7.2/1,000) was higher than hemorrhagic stroke (1.1/1,000). Hemiparesis and hemiplegia were the commonest presentation of stroke. Headache, vomiting, and vertigo were found to be significantly more common accompaniments of hemorrhagic stroke. The most common risk factor was hypertension, followed by hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus.


CONCLUSIONS
The total lifetime prevalence of stroke in the population aged 20 years and more in Upper Egypt (desert area) lies within the range that is recorded in developing countries. Clinical presentation and risk factors are similar to those recorded from developing and developed countries.
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
Hamdy N
HN
El Tallawy
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
Wafaa M
WM
Farghaly
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
Reda
R
Badry
Department of Neurology, El Minia University, El-Minia City, Egypt.
Nermin A
NA
Hamdy
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
Ghaydaa A
GA
Shehata
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
Tarek A
TA
Rageh
Department of Neurology, Al-Azhar University (Assuit Branch), Assiut, Egypt.
Nabil A
NA
Metwally
Department of Neurology, El Minia University, El-Minia City, Egypt.
Enas M
EM
Hassan
Department of Neurology, El Minia University, El-Minia City, Egypt.
Sayed S
SS
Elsayed
Department of Neurology, El Minia University, El-Minia City, Egypt.
Mohamed A
MA
Yehia
Department of Neurology, El Minia University, El-Minia City, Egypt.
Wael T
WT
Soliman
Upper Egypt; desert area; epidemiology; stroke