Epidemiology of stroke: findings from a community-based survey in rural Bangladesh

OBJECTIVES This study was designed to determine the epidemiology of stroke in a rural population of Bangladesh. STUDY DESIGN In a cross-sectional study, we surveyed stroke patients. METHODS The survey was conducted in a rural community of Bangladesh from January 2016 to June 2016. All community members 15 years and older in a surveillance system were included in this study. The Questionnaire for Verifying Stroke-Free Status was used to screen stroke cases at household level which were again examined by the neurologist for confirmatory diagnosis. RESULTS The prevalence of stroke was 1.96 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.69-2.26) per 1000 population. The highest prevalence was 9.65 (95% CI 7.42-12.33) per 1000 population, identified among patients aged 65-79 years. Males had higher…