Prevalence of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes in Qena Governorate, Egypt: community-based study.

BACKGROUND Stroke is a major health problem in developing countries. In a previous survey, the prevalence rate of stroke in the Nile Valley governorate of Assiut was significantly higher than other Arabic countries. In view of this, we carried out a follow-up study in a second Nile Valley governorate (Qena). METHODS A community-based, three-phase, door-to-door study with random sampling of 10 areas in Qena governorate (first phase), involving 8027 inhabitant with 4172 males (51.97%) and 3855 females (48.03%). There were 4427 urban residents (55.15%) and 3600 residents (44.85%) from the rural community. In the second phase, participants were screened using the questionnaire for stroke, whereas the third phase involved neurologic evaluation of all suspected cases, with diagnosis of stroke confirmed by evaluation of computed tomography (CT) scans. The Mini Mental State Examination and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale were evaluated for each patient. RESULTS Of the 8027 participants, 74 were identified as positive cases with a crude prevalence rate 922 of 100,000, an age-adjusted local prevalence rate of 777 of 100,000 and an age-adjusted prevalence rate of Egyptian population 566.6 of 100,000. The highest age-specific prevalence rates were recorded among subjects 70 years of age or older (8,392 of 100,000). The crude prevalence rate of ischemic stroke was significantly higher than that of hemorrhagic stroke (797 vs 125 of 100,000). Illiterate participants had a significantly higher crude prevalence rate than those who were literate (3567 vs 704 of 100,000). There was no significant difference in the prevalence rate between rural and urban areas or between males and females. Fifty patients (67.57%) had 1 or more risk factors of stroke, with hypertension being the most common (62.16%), followed by diabetes mellitus (36.49%). CONCLUSIONS The overall prevalence rate of stroke is nearly the same as in other Egyptian governorates and is higher than other Arabic countries.