Prevalence of Stroke in an Urban, Mixed-Income Community in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The burden of cerebrovascular disease in developing countries is projected to be on the rise. However, data on the current epidemiology of stroke in Africa are sparse. METHODS: Using a 3-staged method, we conducted a door-to-door study of stroke in an urban, mixed-income community in Lagos, Nigeria. We used a modification of the WHO protocol in the first stage, a stroke-specific questionnaire in the second stage and neurological examination of all persons screening positive for stroke in the third stage. We also examined an equal number of stroke-negative persons. RESULTS: Overall, the crude prevalence rate of stroke in urban Nigeria was 1.14/1,000 (males: 1.51; females: 0.69). The age-adjusted prevalence rates per 1,000 (adjusted to the USA population 2000) in mid-decade strata showed a trend of increasing prevalence with advancing age as follows: 35-44 years = 0.009, 45-54 years = 0.33, 55-64 years = 0.71, 65-74 years = 0.98, 75-84 years = 2.04 and >85 years = 0.74. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke prevalence rates in urban Nigeria are lower than those in most developed countries. The lower rates may be related to lower incidence and higher stroke mortality in developing countries.