Incidence of stroke on Kinmen, Taiwan

This study aims to assess the incidence, case-fatality rate and risk factor s of stroke on Kinmen Isla nd, Taiwan, from 1993 to 1996. A population-base d stroke survey was carried out in 1993 and 1996 to collect data on all sub jects in the population aged 50 years and older residing on Kinmen. There w ere 63 stroke events (53 first ever and 10 recurrent) identified in this pe riod. The average annual incidence rate of first-ever stroke for people age d 50 years or older was 527 per 100,000 population (95% confidence interval , CI, 297-757). The 28-day case-fatality rate was 24.5% (95% CI 12.9-36.1%) for first-ever stroke and 60% (95% CI 29.6-90.4%) for recurrent stroke. Mu ltivariate analyses performed with the Cox proportional hazard model reveal ed the following risk factors to be independent predictors of stroke: hyper tension, diabetes and alcohol use. The incidence and case-fatality rate of stroke on Kinmen is similar to that of several other countries. Hypertensio n is the most common risk factor in this population. Due to a relatively sm all number of outcome events, these findings require confirmation. Copyrigh t (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.