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Published on: February 23, 2016

Geographic variations in stroke incidence and mortality among older populations in four US communities

Aiman El-Saed1, Lewis H Kuller, Anne B Newman

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, 130 N Bellefield Ave, Rm 405, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. amest30@pitt.edu

Stroke
|June 24, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Stroke incidence varied significantly across four US communities. Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, showed a notably lower stroke rate compared to other locations, suggesting potential for improved prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in the United States.
  • Limited data exists on geographic variations in stroke incidence among older adults.
  • Older populations bear the majority of the stroke burden.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare stroke incidence and mortality rates across four diverse US communities.
  • To identify potential geographic disparities in stroke burden.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) with 5639 participants without prior stroke history.
  • Followed participants for 7-10 years, including white and black cohorts.
  • Validated incident strokes through annual visits, phone contacts, and Medicare hospitalization data.

Main Results:

  • The overall US age- and sex-standardized stroke incidence rate was 17.7 per 1000 person-years.
  • Allegheny County, PA, had a significantly lower incidence rate (9.6/1000) compared to Forsyth County, NC (19.2), Sacramento County, CA (20.7), and Washington County, MD (19.8).
  • Lower incidence in Allegheny County was consistent across gender, race, and age groups; mortality also trended lower.

Conclusions:

  • Geographic variations in stroke incidence are significant.
  • Understanding these disparities is crucial for enhancing stroke prevention efforts.
  • Further research into community-specific factors may inform public health interventions.
Abstract

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