Acute Stroke Registry Malaysia, 2010-2014: Results from the National Neurology Registry.
BACKGROUND
Stroke remains a major health burden worldwide. The incidence and prevalence rates of stroke are decreasing in developed countries, an opposite trend is taking place in the Asia Pacific, where an increasing number of patients are being diagnosed with acute stroke. The results of the present study on acute stroke in multi-ethnic Malaysia will significantly contribute to the global stroke epidemiological data. We aimed to present epidemiological data of stroke including incidence and prevalence rates as well as associated risk factors from a prospective nationwide hospital-based registry from 2010 to 2014.


METHODS
Patients diagnosed with stroke upon admission at the hospital were prospectively enrolled into the registry from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2014. Descriptive analyses were performed.


RESULTS
A total of 7668 patients were available for analysis. On average, patients were aged 62.7 years (standard deviation of 12.5). Ischemic stroke accounts for 79.4% of the cohort with a slightly higher proportion of male patients (55%). Ischemic stroke incidence is estimated to increase annually by 29.5% and hemorrhagic stroke by 18.7%. Hypertension is a major risk factor for both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes regardless of stroke event with an excess of 8.4% hypertensive female compare to male patients (P ≤ .001). Majority of patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes experienced mild and moderate stroke with 11.7% and 21.1%, respectively, documented as severe (P ≤ .001).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence and prevalence of stroke in Malaysia increased dramatically in the 5-year study period. Therefore, implementation of risk factor control strategies is important to prevent further increase of stroke burden in the country.
Department of Neurology, Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah, Jalan Sultan Mahmud, 20400 Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Electronic address: zaraziz_ayie@yahoo.com.
Zariah A
ZA
Aziz
Health and Value, Pfizer Malaysia, Levels 10 & 11, Wisma Averis, Tower 2, Avenue 5, Bangsar South, No. 8 Jalan Kerinchi, 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Yvonne Y L
YY
Lee
Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Jalan Maran, Temerloh, 28000 Pahang, Malaysia.
Bahari Awang
BA
Ngah
Department of Neurology, Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah, Jalan Sultan Mahmud, 20400 Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.
Norsima Nafizah
NN
Sidek
Department of Medicine, Hospital Seberang Jaya, Prai, 13700 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
Irene
I
Looi
Department of Neurology, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Pahang, 50586 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Md Rafia
MR
Hanip
Department of Medicine, Level 3, Block B (Academic), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Hamidon B
HB
Basri
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D015994:Incidence; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008019:Life Style; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
Incidence; Malaysia; epidemiology; prevalence; registry; stroke