Ten-year trend in stroke incidence and its subtypes in Isfahan, Iran during 2003-2013

Background: As there was no evidence of long-term studies on stroke trend, stroke subtypes and its relationships to stroke risk factors and demographic characteristics in Iran, we aimed to evaluate the 10-year trend of stroke incidence and stroke subtypes in Isfahan, Iran. Methods: In a hospital-based retrospective study, 24186 cases with the first-ever stroke were analyzed. We assessed the incidence trend of annual stroke and its subtypes [ischemic stroke (IS) subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH)] during the years 2003 to 2013 by sex, and studied the association of demographic and major stroke risk factors with incidence and mortality rate of stroke. Results: The mean age was 69.46 ± 14.87 years, and 49.29% of patients were women. IS was the most frequent type among all the types of strokes (76.18%). Stroke and its subtypes had decreasing incidence trend during the study period, except for SAH that increased. In addition, stroke and its subtypes had decreasing mortality trend during the study period, except for SAH that did not change anymore. Stroke mortality and incidence rates were lower in urban inhabitants compared to residents of rural areas [odds ratio (OR) = 0.763, P < 0.001]. Conclusion: Despite the relatively high incidence of stroke over the study period, the incidence rate of stroke, especially ICH subtype, had a decreasing trend over the last decade in Isfahan. However, given the current young population in Iran, we can expect that the incidence of stroke would have an escalating trend in future.