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Epidemiology of cerebrovascular disease in Korea--a Collaborative Study, 1989-1990. Korean Neurological Association
Insights
This study reveals a shift in cerebrovascular disease patterns in Korea, with cerebral thrombotic strokes now more common than intracerebral hemorrhage. Further research is needed for precise evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Cerebrovascular disease poses a significant health burden globally.
- Understanding stroke patterns is crucial for effective public health interventions.
- Previous studies indicated intracerebral hemorrhage as the predominant stroke type in Korea.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present epidemiologic, etiologic, and clinical data for cerebrovascular disease in Korea.
- To establish baseline data on recent stroke patterns.
- To evaluate temporal trends in cerebrovascular disease compared to earlier reports.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 3,021 patients with cerebrovascular disease.
- Data collected from 17 regional hospital centers across Korea (1989-1990).
- Standardized protocol for coding cases into a computerized registry.
Main Results:
- Cerebral thrombotic strokes accounted for 27.2% of cases.
- Intracerebral hemorrhage represented 31.4% of cases.
- The incidence of cerebral thrombotic strokes (41.1% combined with other thrombotic events) surpassed intracerebral hemorrhage, reversing previous trends.
Conclusions:
- A changing trend in stroke patterns in Korea is suggested.
- Cerebral thrombotic strokes appear to be increasing in incidence.
- A multicenter prospective study with enhanced registry protocols is recommended for accurate evaluation.
Abstract:
We present epidemiologic, etiologic, and clinical data for 3,021 patients with cerebrovascular disease admitted to the 17 regional hospital centers from all over Korea from 1989 to 1990. Each case was coded retrospectively into a computerized registry using a standard protocol. This study was conducted to provide baseline data on recent patterns on cerebrovascular disease in Korea and to evaluate any temporal trends compared with previous reports. It is the largest hospital-based study and gives a rough estimate of the current stroke profiles in Korea. Although there might be some selection bias in several hospitals, the distribution of cases by type of stroke was: thrombosis (27.2%), lacular infarction (11.2%), transient ischemic attack (3.0%), embolism (7.0%), intracerebral hemorrhage (31.4%), subarachnoid hemorrhage (18.0%), intraventricular hemorrhage (1.5%), and others (0.7%). The overall incidence rate of cerebral thrombotic strokes (41.1%) was higher than that of intracerebral hemorrhage (31.4%) which was the reverse in most of previous reports before 1980s. This study suggests a changing trend of stroke patterns in Korea and a multicenter prospective study using more complete registry protocols is required for an accurate evaluation.