Epidemiology of stroke in India

Abstract

Several population-based surveys on stroke were conducted from different parts of India. During the last decade, the age-adjusted prevalence rate of stroke was between 250-350/100,000. Recent studies showed that the age-adjusted annual incidence rate was 105/100,000 in the urban community of Kolkata and 262/100,000 in a rural community of Bengal. The ratio of cerebral infarct to hemorrhage was 2.21. Hypertension was the most important risk factor. Stroke represented 1.2% of total deaths in India.