The Epidemiology of Stroke in Central Harlem

In January, 1971, the Regional Medical Program of New York implemented a comprehensive regional stroke program at Harlem Hospital in cooperation with Columbia University, New York, New York. The program is directed toward prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of stroke patients. During the first year of the program, 395 patients with the diagnosis of acute stroke were admitted. Sixty-seven had not suffered an acute stroke. Of the remaining 328 patients with a verified acute stroke, 52 were classified as hemorrhagic. Only three patients with TIA were seen. One hundred thirteen patients, 40 of whom had suffered hemorrhagic strokes, died while in the hospital. Two hundred thirty-six patients had associated diseases, hypertension being the most common. The median age was 65 for women and 66 for men. Based on the 1970 census, the rate per 100,000 is estimated to be at least 212. Age-specific rates show a higher than expected rate among the younger age groups. Compared with similar studies of white populations, this study indicates the following characteristics of the entity stroke in an urban black community: (1) incidence is high, (2) patients are relatively young, and (3) high incidence of associated disease.