Acute Stroke Registry Malaysia, 2010-2014: Results from the National Neurology Registry

Background: Stroke remains a major health burden worldwide. The incidence and prevalence rates of stroke are decreasing in developed countries, an opposite trend is taking place in the Asia Pacific, where an increasing number of patients are being diagnosed with acute stroke. The results of the present study on acute stroke in multi-ethnic Malaysia will significantly contribute to the global stroke epidemiological data. We aimed to present epidemiological data of stroke including incidence and prevalence rates as well as associated risk factors from a prospective nationwide hospital-based registry from 2010 to 2014. Methods: Patients diagnosed with stroke upon admission at the hospital were prospectively enrolled into the registry from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2014. Descriptive analyses were performed. Results: A total of 7668 patients were available for analysis. On average, patients were aged 62.7 years (standard deviation of 12.5). Ischemic stroke accounts for 79.4% of the cohort with a slightly higher proportion of male patients (55%). Ischemic stroke incidence is estimated to increase annually by 29.5% and hemorrhagic stroke by 18.7%. Hypertension is a major risk factor for both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes regardless of stroke event with an excess of 8.4% hypertensive female compare to male patients (P ≤ .001). Majority of patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes experienced mild and moderate stroke with 11.7% and 21.1%, respectively, documented as severe (P ≤ .001). Conclusions: The incidence and prevalence of stroke in Malaysia increased dramatically in the 5-year study period. Therefore, implementation of risk factor control strategies is important to prevent further increase of stroke burden in the country.