Background and purpose: Stroke is the second most common cause of death in Taiwan. We studied its prevalence, risk factors, and mortality in a rural Chinese population.
Methods: A door-to-door survey of stroke was conducted in two Kinmen Island townships with a total population of 26105 people. Our target population (n = 5061) consisted of all the registered residents in these townships who were aged > or = 50 years on August 1, 1993. All participants were given a standardized neurological examination and a questionnaire.
Results: The participation rate was 77.4% (n = 3915). Ninety-six cases of completed stroke were identified. Eighty-nine patients had one, 6 patients had two, and 1 patient had three episodes of stroke. The prevalence of stroke in persons aged > or = 50 years was 24.5 per 1000 (95% confidence interval, 19.7 to 29.3 per 1000). Prevalence increased with age. Statistically significant risk factors associated with stroke included hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and irregular heartbeats. Of the stroke survivors, 59% were independent in activities of daily living and 71% could walk independently.
Conclusions: Compared with other countries, Taiwan has a moderately high prevalence of stroke. The risk factors for stroke in this rural region of a developing country are similar to those in developed countries. Most stroke survivors here perform their daily activities independently without outside assistance.