Long-term survival and outcome after first stroke in the Sicilian Aeolian Island Archipelago population

Background: Only a restricted number of population studies based on long-term prognosis after a stroke have been published. We analyzed long-term survival and outcome in insular first-ever stroke population from the Aeolian Archipelago. Subjects and methods: From 1 July, 1999 to 30 June 2002, 62 patients with first-ever stroke were recruited to evaluate short-term incidence and outcome. Information for every patient was collected by phone interviews after 3 months, 1 year, and 4 years. Results: 30 days case fatality rate was 24.2% (95% C.I. 14.22 to 36.75). Fifty-one percent (95% C.I. 35.8 to 66.3) of patients died before last survey and 39.1% died during the first year of follow-up. Annual approximate death risk amounted to about 10%. Results: The cerebrovascular causes were the most frequent causes of death (65.2%). A high level of invalidity at 4 years was present in many survivors (40%). Results: None of the deceased had followed physio-kinesitherapy, or applied for equipment or services. Conclusion: More attentive medical care for stroke patients could help improve outcome, reducing mortality for patients from the Aeolian island, who already showed a low incidence.