Kn. Vemmos et al., Prognosis of stroke in the south of Greece: 1 year mortality, functional outcome and its determinants: the Arcadia Stroke Registry, J NE NE PSY, 69(5), 2000, pp. 595-600
Objectives-For Greece, data on incidence of stroke, type of stroke, and pro
gnosis of stroke is limited. Recently, results on incidence of stroke were
published. Here 1 year mortality, functional outcome after a first ever str
oke, and determinants of the prognosis are described.
Methods-A population based registry was established in the Arcadia area, lo
cated in eastern central Peloponessos in southern Greece. Between 1 Novembe
r 1993 and 31 October 1995, 555 patients with a first ever stroke were iden
tified using information from death certificates, hospital records, public
health centres and general practitioners. Extensive information on cardiova
scular risk factors and stroke characteristics was obtained. After 1 year a
modified Rankin score was determined in all surviving patients.
Results-After 1 year of follow up, 204 (36.8%) patients died. The probabili
ty of survival 1 year after stroke was higher for cerebral infarction than
for intracerebral haemorrhage; 67.8% (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 64-7
2) and 46.4% (35-57), respectively. Of the survivors, 68.9% had either no s
ymptoms or symptoms that would not interfere with their capacity to look af
ter themselves (Rankin score 9 to 2). Increasing age and low Glasgow coma s
cale score were the most powerful predictors of death within 1 year (p<0.01
), whereas increasing age, atrial fibrillation, and low Glasgow coma scale
score were the most important predictors of functional outcome 1 year after
a stroke (p<0.01).
Conclusions-One year mortality from stroke in Greece is similar to that of
other industrialised countries. The most important factors that affect the
prognosis of a patient with a first ever stroke are increasing age, stroke
severity, and atrial fibrillation.