Incidence and prognosis of stroke in the Belluno province, Italy. First-year results of a community-based study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We sought to register the incidence rate, risk factors, and case-fatality rate of all the new cases of first-ever-in-a-lifetime stroke in the province of Beluno, Italy. This study aimed to provide an epidemiological survey of cerebrovascular disease that could supply investigative objectives and support information for regional healthcare facilities planning.

METHODS: We undertook a prospective population-based study in the territory of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th local health units in the province of Belluno, an area located in northeast Italy (population, 211 389).

RESULTS: In the first year of the study (June 1, 1992, to May 31, 1993), 474 cases of first-ever stroke were registered. The crude annual incidence rate was 2.24/1000 (2.01/1000 for men and 2.45/1000 for women). After adjustment to the European population, the incidence rate for first stroke was 1.70/1000 per year. The pathological diagnosis was confirmed by a CT scan in 89.5% of cases. Cerebral infarction accounted for 319 cases, while 93 patients suffered a primary intracerebral hemorrhage, 12 patients a subarachnoid hemorrhage, and 50 patients a stroke of unknown origin. The overall 30-day case-fatality rate was 33%, and the mortality within the first week from stroke onset was 23%. The recurrence rate after 1 month was 1.9%. After 1 month, 46% of our patients were functionally independent in activities of daily living.

CONCLUSIONS: Our first-year results confirm the fairly high risk for stroke in central and northern Italy and support European findings regarding risk factors for stroke.