[Strokes in South Vietnam: an epidemiologic study].

Strokes are a major health problem in Vietnam, but to date, there has been no epidemiology survey reporting data in this country. We collected epidemiology data on strokes using a door-to-door survey in 1994-1995 in three different regions of southern Vietnam (one site in a Hô Chi Minh City and two rural areas in the Tiên Giang and Kiên Giang provinces). Interviewers were medical students and non-medical staff trained in the use of questionnaire based on WHO diagnostic criteria for stroke. Results of the interviews were reviewed and detected stroke patients were examined by a team of experience neurologists. U-test was used for statistical analysis. After age adjustment, stroke prevalence was 6.08 per 1,000 inhabitants. Prevalence increased with age. Mortality and incidence, after age adjustment, were 1.31 and 2.5 per 1,000 inhabitants respectively. Due to the lack of detailed death certificates in these regions, these data must be considered carefully. Arterial hypertension was recognized as the most important risk factor for stroke in our survey.