Epidemiology of childhood stroke in Estonia

Pediatr Neurol. 2010 Feb;42(2):93-100. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2009.08.009.

Abstract

We investigated the incidence and 30-day case-fatality of childhood stroke in Estonia, and clinical signs and risk factors of childhood stroke. A retrospective (1995-2003) and prospective study (2004-2006) of childhood stroke (arterial ischemic, hemorrhagic, and sinovenous thrombosis) and transient ischemic attack was conducted. Stroke-incidence calculation was based on the prospective study. Clinical diagnoses of stroke were confirmed by neuroradiology. The incidence rate of childhood stroke in Estonia was 2.73/100,000 person-years for children aged 30 days to 18 years: 1.61/100,000 for arterial ischemic stroke, 0.87/100,000 for hemorrhagic stroke, 0.25/100,000 for sinovenous thrombosis, and 0.37/100,000 for transient ischemic attack. No arterial ischemic stroke patients died within 30 days, but case-fatality for intracerebral hemorrhage was 46%. Focal signs occurred in 100% of arterial ischemic strokes and 64% of intracerebral hemorrhage cases. Risk factors were identified in 35/48 (73%) children with cerebrovascular attacks. Six children with arterial ischemic stroke (6/24, 25%) manifested more than one risk factor. The incidence rate of childhood stroke in Estonia is similar to that in earlier data.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Brain Ischemia / complications
  • Brain Ischemia / diagnosis
  • Brain Ischemia / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Estonia / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient / complications
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient / diagnosis
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Stroke / diagnosis*
  • Stroke / epidemiology*
  • Stroke / etiology