Study on epidemiology of cognitive dysfunction after stroke in the population over the age of 45 in Inner Mongolia

To analyze the prevalence of different degrees vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) in stroke and the characteristics of demography distribution in Inner Mongolia. In order to provide reference data and theoretical guidance for the prevention and treatment of VCI after stroke in the area.

Stratified multi-stage random sampling was used to extract six regions of Inner Mongolia as the first sampling cluster; and then the corresponding banners (counties) were selected randomly as the secondary sampling cluster; according to the number of patient required to investigation, the corresponding number of communities was randomly selected from the secondary sampling cluster. According to the diagnostic criteria of 'Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular cognitive impairment' and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke convened an International Workshop with support from the Association Internationale pour la Recherche et l'Enseignement en Neurosciences (NINDS-AIREN), we screened all stroke patients aged 45 or older from each community, a total of 444 patients participated in the questionnaire and various scale assessments.

The prevalence of VCI, vascular cognitive impairment no dementia and vascular dementia was 80.41%, 34.46% and 45.95% respectively. The prevalence of VCI in stroke was significantly different in different nationality, age and education level (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in gender, occupation, marital status and family structure (P > 0.05).

The prevalence of VCI after stroke was higher in Inner Mongolia, and VCI had a relatively high morbidity in old age people and person with less education in Chinese Han population.