INTRODUCTION: A stroke is the most common neurological disorder, and the most common cause of severe disability. The aim of this study was to establish the incidence and recurrence of the stroke among the population of the Doljevac district, as well as the differences in the outcome of disease between the patients diagnosed with the first and recurrent stroke. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective examination was carried out, and the study included all patients with the first and recurrent stroke in the territory of the Doljevac district (population, 19529) in the period from 2004 to 2008, after two years of monitoring. RESULTS: During the observed period, the total number of the affected people was 380, of whom 182 (47.89%) were males, and 198 (52.10%) were females. The overall standardized incidence rate of the stroke was 270.20, and with recurrences--42.03. Among the patients with the first stroke, we recorded a higher number of survivals (Chi2 = 3.99; p = 0.04) and patients with recurrences in a one-year period (Chi2 = 5.29; p = 0.02), as well as in a two-year period (Chi2 = 7.72; p = 0.00) since the beginning of the disease. Among the patients with recurrences, we recorded a higher demand for medical help in home healthcare environment (Chi2 = 4.97; p = 0.02), and the higher one-month (Chi2 = 12.09; p = 0.00), and one-year lethality (Chi2 = 9.03; p = 0.00). Among the patients with recurrences, there were no differences in the diagnosis of the first and recurrent stroke (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that there were no statistical differences in the incidence between the first and recurrent stroke between the sexes (p > 0.05). Among the patients with the first stroke, we recorded a higher tendency for survival, and frequent cases of recurrence, and among those with recurrences, the rate of mortality was higher.
INTRODUCTION: A stroke is the most common neurological disorder, and the most common cause of severe disability. The aim of this study was to establish the incidence and recurrence of the stroke among the population of the Doljevac district, as well as the differences in the outcome of disease between the patients diagnosed with the first and recurrent stroke. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective examination was carried out, and the study included all patients with the first and recurrent stroke in the territory of the Doljevac district (population, 19529) in the period from 2004 to 2008, after two years of monitoring. RESULTS: During the observed period, the total number of the affected people was 380, of whom 182 (47.89%) were males, and 198 (52.10%) were females. The overall standardized incidence rate of the stroke was 270.20, and with recurrences--42.03. Among the patients with the first stroke, we recorded a higher number of survivals (Chi2 = 3.99; p = 0.04) and patients with recurrences in a one-year period (Chi2 = 5.29; p = 0.02), as well as in a two-year period (Chi2 = 7.72; p = 0.00) since the beginning of the disease. Among the patients with recurrences, we recorded a higher demand for medical help in home healthcare environment (Chi2 = 4.97; p = 0.02), and the higher one-month (Chi2 = 12.09; p = 0.00), and one-year lethality (Chi2 = 9.03; p = 0.00). Among the patients with recurrences, there were no differences in the diagnosis of the first and recurrent stroke (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that there were no statistical differences in the incidence between the first and recurrent stroke between the sexes (p > 0.05). Among the patients with the first stroke, we recorded a higher tendency for survival, and frequent cases of recurrence, and among those with recurrences, the rate of mortality was higher.