Greater incidence of both fatal and nonfatal strokes in disadvantaged areas - The northeast Melbourne stroke incidence study

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Greater stroke mortality has been reported among lower socioeconomic groups. We aimed to determine whether fatal, nonfatal, and overall stroke incidence varied by socioeconomic status. METHODS: All suspected strokes occurring in 22 postcodes (population of 306,631) of Melbourne, Australia, during a 24-month period between 1997 and 1999 were found and assessed. Multiple overlapping sources were used to ascertain cases with standard clinical definitions for stroke. Socioeconomic disadvantage was assigned in 4 bands from least to greatest using an area-based measure developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. RESULTS: Overall stroke incidence (number per 100,000 po..