Prevalence of stroke among Chinese, Malay, and Indian Singaporeans: A community-based tri-racial cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background and Purpose-Stroke prevalence data among mixed Asian populations are lacking. Prevalence rates of stroke were studied among Singaporeans aged ≥50 years of Chinese, Malay, and Indian origin. Methods-Study participants were selected by disproportionate stratified random sampling by race. Trained interviewers performed face-to-face interviews with subjects using the World Health Organization screening protocol for neurological diseases. Data were also collected on a self-report of stroke. Subjects suspected to have had a stroke underwent a clinical evaluation to diagnose or exclude stroke. Case notes review was performed for those who were unable to come for clinical evaluation. Results-The study involved 14 906 participants: 6734 men, 8172 women, age range 52 to 106 years, Chinese:Malay: Indian ratio 3:1:1. Participation rate was 66.9%. Six hundred and six were diagnosed to have a stroke, yielding a crude prevalence rate of 4.05% (95% CI, 3.75 to 4.38) and a World Health Organization world population age-gender-standardized rate of 3.65% (95% CI, 3.36 to 3.96). Prevalence rates rose with age (P