Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Prevalence of stroke and transient ischaemic attack in the elderly population of an Italian rural community

  • Published:
European Journal of Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of stroke and transient ischaemic attack in the elderly population, including the oldest residents, of a rural Italian community. Methods: A door-to-door survey was performed between April and October 2001 in 2390 subjects aged 65 years and over. A symptom questionnaire validated by medical records and neurological examination was employed. Results: Complete information was available for 2260 subjects. The overall prevalence of stroke was 8.2% in males and 5.1% in females. In the very elderly, this increased to 10.7% in males and 10% in females and decreased only in males aged 90 years or over. The overall prevalence of transient ischaemic attack was 7% in males and 4.9% in females. This, too, increased with age, reaching 10.2% in males and 7.4% in females and decreased only in subjects of both sexes aged 85 years or over. Conclusions: An actual estimate of the high prevalence of cerebrovascular disease in the elderly population, even in very old subjects, was thus achieved. Appropriate health care services consequently need to be planned.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. McGovern PG, Burke GL, Sprafka JM, Xue S, Folsom AR, Blackburn H. Trends in mortality, morbidity and risk factor levels for stroke from 1960 throughout 1990. The Minnesota Heart Survey. JAMA 1992; 268: 753–759.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Brown RD, Whisnant JP, Sicks JD, O'Fallon WM, Wiebers DO. Stroke incidence, prevalence and survival. Secular trends in Rochester, Minnesota, throughout 1989. Stroke 1996; 27: 373–380.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Murray CJL, Lopez AD. Alternative projections of mortality and disability by cause 1990-2020: Global burden of disease study. Lancet 1997; 349: 1498–1504.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Fratiglioni L, Viitanen M, Backman L, Sandman PO, Winblad B. Occurrence of dementia in advanced age: The study design of the Kungsholmen Project. Neuroepidemiology 1992; 11(Suppl): 29–36.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Manubens JM, Martinez-Lage JM, Lacruz F, et al. Prevalence of Alzheimer' disease and other dementing disorders in Pamplona, Spain. Neuroepidemiology 1995; 14: 155–164.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Lobo A, Saz P, Marcos G, Dia JL, De la Camara C. The prevalence of dementia and depression in the elderly community in a southern European population. The Zaragoza Study. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1995; 52: 497–506.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bots ML, Looman SJ, Koudstaal PJ, Hofman A, Hoes AW, Grobbee DE. Prevalence of stroke in the general population. The Rotterdam Study. Stroke 1996; 27: 1499–1501.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Mittelmark MB, Psaty BM, Rautaharju P, et al. Prevalence of cardiovascular diseases among older adults. The Cardiovascular Health Study. Am J Epidemio 1993; 127: 311–317.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hu HH, Chu FL, Chiang BN, et al. Prevalence of stroke in Taiwan. Stroke 1989; 20: 858–863.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Reggio A, Rocca WA, Patti F, et al. Prevalence of stroke: A door-to-door survey in three Sicilian municipalities. Sicilian Neuroepidemiologic Study (SNES) Group. Neuroepidemiology 1996; 15: 92–102.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Sorensen PS, Boysen G, Jensen G, Schnor P. Prevalence of stroke in a district of Copenhagen. The Copenhagen City Heart Study. Acta Neurol Scand 1982; 66: 68–81.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Aho K, Reunanen A, Aromaa A, Knekt P, Maatela J. Prevalence of stroke in Finland. Stroke 1986; 17: 681–686.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Paschalis C, Polychronopolous P, Makris N, Kondakis X, Papapetropolous T. Prevalence rate of cerebrovascular disease in the rural population of Northwest Peloponnese, Greece. Eur Neurol 1989; 29: 186–188.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Bonita R, Solomon N, Broad JB. Prevalence of stroke and stroke-related disability. Estimates from the Auckland Stroke Studies. Stroke 1997; 28: 1898–1902.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Li SC, Schoenberg BS, Wang CC, Cheng XM, Bolis CL, Wang KJ. Cerebrovascular disease in the People' Republic of China: Epidemiologic and clinical features. Neurology 1985; 35: 1708–1713.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Guccione AA, Felson DT, Anderson JJ, et al. The effects of specific medical conditions on the functional limitations of elders in the Framingham Study. Am J Public Health 1994; 84: 351–358.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Di Carlo A, Launer LJ, Breteler MMB, et al. For the ILSA Working Group and the Neurologic Diseases in the Elderly Research Group. Frequency of stroke in Europe: A collaborative study of population-based cohorts. Neurology 2000; 54(Suppl 5): S28–S33.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Maggi S, Zucchetto M, Grigoletto F, et al. The Italian Longitudinal Study on Ageing (ILSA): Design and methods. Aging 1994; 6: 464–473.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Urakami K, Igo M, Takahashi K. An epidemiologic study of cerebrovascular disease in western Japan with special reference to transient ischemic attacks. Stroke 1987; 18: 396–401.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Ostfeld AM, Shelleke RB, Klawans HL. Transient ischemic attacks and risk of stroke in an elderly poor population. Stroke 1973; 4: 980–986.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Phillips SJ, Whisnant JP, O'Fallon WM, Frye RL. Prevalence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus in residents of Rochester, Minnesota. Mayo Clinic Proc 1990; 655: 344–359.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Bots ML, van der Wilk EC, Koudstaal PJ, Hofman A, Grobbee DE. Transient neurological attacks in the general population. Prevalence, risk factors and clinical relevance. Stroke 1997; 28: 763–768.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Di Carlo A, Candelise L, Gandolfo C, et al. Influence of different screening procedures on the stroke prevalence estimates: The Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Cerebrovasc Dis 1999; 9: 231–237.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Berger K, Hense HW, Rothdach A, Weltermann B, Keil U. A single question about prior stroke versus a stroke questionnaire to assess stroke prevalence in populations. Neuroepidemiology 2000; 19: 245–257.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Hoeymans N, Feskens EJ, Van Den Bos GA, Kromhout D. Non-response bias in a study of cardiovascular diseases, functional status and self-rated health among elderly men. Age Ageing 1998; 27: 35–40.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosciences, Neurology Clinic, University of Pisa, Italy

    Giovanni Orlandi, Andrea Gelli, Simona Fanucchi, Gloria Tognoni, Giovanni Acerbi & Luigi Murri

Authors
  1. Giovanni Orlandi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andrea Gelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Simona Fanucchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gloria Tognoni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Giovanni Acerbi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Luigi Murri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Orlandi, G., Gelli, A., Fanucchi, S. et al. Prevalence of stroke and transient ischaemic attack in the elderly population of an Italian rural community. Eur J Epidemiol 18, 879–882 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025639203283

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025639203283

Search

Navigation