Incidence, lethality, and post-stroke functional status in different Brazilian macro-regions: The SAMBA study (analysis of stroke in multiple Brazilian areas)

Emily Dos Santos; Giulia M Wollmann; Vivian Nagel; Herminia M S Ponte; Luis E T A Furtado; Rui K V Martins-Filho; Gustavo Weiss; Sheila C O Martins; Leslie E Ferreira; Paulo H C de França; Norberto L Cabral

doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.966785

Incidence, lethality, and post-stroke functional status in different Brazilian macro-regions: The SAMBA study (analysis of stroke in multiple Brazilian areas)

Front Neurol. 2022 Sep 15:13:966785. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2022.966785. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Emily Dos Santos¹, Giulia M Wollmann², Vivian Nagel³, Herminia M S Ponte⁴, Luis E T A Furtado⁵, Rui K V Martins-Filho⁶, Gustavo Weiss^{7

8}, Sheila C O Martins^{7

8}, Leslie E Ferreira^{1

2}, Paulo H C de França^{1

2}, Norberto L Cabral^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Postgraduate Program on Health and Environment, University of the Region of Joinville-Univille, Joinville, Brazil.
² Department of Medicine, University of the Region of Joinville-Univille, Joinville, Brazil.
³ Joinville Stroke Registry, Hospital Municipal São José, Joinville, Brazil.
⁴ Department of Nursing, Inta University Center-UNINTA, Sobral, Brazil.
⁵ Department of Clinical Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Sobral, Brazil.
⁶ Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo-USP, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
⁷ Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
⁸ Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Abstract

Background: Stroke is the second leading cause of death in Brazil. The social and financial burden of stroke is remarkable; however, the epidemiological profile remains poorly understood.

Objective: The aim of this study was to report the incidence, lethality, and functional status at 30 and 90 days post-stroke in the cities of different Brazilian macro-regions.

Methods: This is an observational, prospective, and population-based study, led in Canoas (South), Joinville (South, reference center), Sertãozinho (Southeast), and Sobral (Northeast) in Brazil. It was developed according to the three-step criteria recommended by the World Health Organization to conduct population-based studies on stroke. Using different sources, all hospitalized and ambulatory patients with stroke were identified and the same criteria were kept in all cities. All first events were included, regardless of sex, age, or type of stroke. Demographic and risk factor data were collected, followed by biochemical, electrocardiographic, and radiological test results. Functional status and lethality were obtained using the mRankin scale through telephonic interview (validated Brazilian version).

Results: In 1 year, 932 stroke cases were registered (784 ischemic stroke, 105 hemorrhagic stroke, and 43 subarachnoid hemorrhage). The incidence rates per 100,000 inhabitants, adjusted for the world population, were 63 in Canoas, 106 in Joinville, 72 in Sertãozinho, and 96 in Sobral. The majority (70.8%) were followed for 90 days. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that 90-day survival was different among cities. Sobral, which has the lowest socioeconomic indexes, revealed the worst results in terms of lethality and functional status.

Conclusion: This study expands the knowledge of stroke epidemiology in Brazil, a middle-income country with enormous socioeconomic and cultural diversity. The discrepancy observed regarding the impact of stroke in patients from Joinville and Sobral highlights the need to improve the strategic allocation of resources to meet the health priorities in each location.

Keywords: epidemiology; functional status; incidence; lethality; stroke.