Stroke Prevalence in Spanish Elderly
Author Information
Author(s): Raquel Boix, José Luis del Barrio, Pedro Saz, Ramón Reñé, José María Manubens, Antonio Lobo, Jordi Gascón, Ana de Arce, Jaime Díaz-Guzmán, Alberto Bergareche, Félix Bermejo-Pareja, Jesús de Pedro-Cuesta
Primary Institution: National Centre for Epidemiology, Carlos III Institute of Public Health, Madrid, Spain
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of stroke among elderly populations in Spain compared to other European countries?
Conclusion
Stroke prevalence in central and north-eastern Spain is higher in males and in suburban areas, with significant geographic variation.
Supporting Evidence
- Age-adjusted prevalences were 7.3% for men and 5.6% for women.
- Prevalence was significantly lower in women, with an odds ratio of 0.79.
- Prevalences were highest in suburban areas at 8.7% and lowest in rural areas at 3.8%.
- Statistically significant differences were found when comparing Spanish populations to Italian populations.
Takeaway
This study found that more older men in Spain have strokes, especially in suburban areas, and that the number of strokes varies a lot depending on where you live.
Methodology
The study analyzed screening surveys targeting stroke prevalence in Spanish populations aged 70 and over, using logistic regression for data analysis.
Potential Biases
Potential publication bias was addressed by including unpublished studies, but only reported studies were used for European comparisons.
Limitations
The study may have limitations due to methodological differences in the surveys and the exclusion of unpublished studies from European comparisons.
Participant Demographics
The study included 10,647 participants, with 41% men and 59% women, aged 70 and over.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.79
Confidence Interval
0.68–0.93
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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