Stroke in a Saudi Arabian National Guard Community: Analysis of 500 consecutive cases from a population-based hospital

Abstract

Background and Purpose: We sought to determine the crude incidence rate, patterns, and risk factors associated with different types of stroke in a defined Saudi population. Methods: Records of 500 (342 male, 158 female) consecutive patients with first-ever stroke admitted from December 1982 to June 1992 in a hospital that exclusively serves the Saudi Arabian National Guard community were reviewed. Diagnosis was confirmed by brain computed tomography, and the most likely etiology was determined on the basis of relevant clinical, radiological, and laboratory data. Results: The mean age of the patients was 63 ±17 years. Males predominated in all types of stroke (P