Stroke incidence in Ilan, Taiwan

The purpose of this community hospital-based study of stroke was to assess the incidence rate of cerebral infarct, cerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage in a well-defined region of South Ilan. A prospective stroke registry was established at the two regional general hospitals serving about 184,000 inhabitants. From January to December 1991, a total of 258 stroke events were registered. Computed tomography was done in 99% of the stroke cases. The mean age for first-ever stroke in the region was 66.1 +/- 12.2 years. The annual incidence rates per 1,000 population for first-ever cerebral infarct in the respective age groups were 0.75 (45-54 years), 1.59 (55-64 years), 5.24 (65-74 years) and 8.01 (> or = 75 years). The incidence rates per 1,000 population for first-ever cerebral hemorrhage in the respective age groups were 0.52 (45-54 years), 1.19 (55-64 years), 1.05 (65-74 years) and 2.91 (> or = 75 years). The incidence rates per 1,000 population for first-ever subarachnoid hemorrhage in the respective age groups were 0.17 (45-54 years), 0.20 (55-64 years), 0.12 (65-74 years) and 1.21 (> or = 75 years). The age-specific incidence rate for first-ever stroke in the group aged 45 to 54 years observed in this study is higher than that in Western countries. The age-adjusted incidence rate for cerebral hemorrhage is significantly higher than that in Caucasians and is similar to that reported in Japan from 1974 to 1983.