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Introduction: Stroke is associated with major consequences in terms of socioeconomic impact and lost disability-adjusted life in young victims, thus justifying a careful surveillance of epidemiological trends. This study aimed to assess changes in the incidence of ischemic stroke in young adults over a long period. Methods: All cases of first-ever ischemic stroke that occurred among adults aged 18–55 years were prospectively recorded using the population-based Dijon Stroke Registry, from 1985 to 2017. Sex-specific annual incidence rates were calculated and were presented according to 6 time periods. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were determined to assess sex differences in stroke incidence. Results: Over the whole study period, 4,451 patients suffered a first-ever ischemic stroke. Among these patients, 469 (10.5%) were young adults (median age: 46 years, IQR: 39–50; 53.9% men). Incidence rates rose from the study period 2003 to 2007 compared with previous periods and remained stable thereafter, both in men and women. Hence, incidence per 100,000 per year was globally 11.0 (95% CI: 9.4–12.7) before 2003 and 22.9 (20.3–25.6) thereafter. In individuals aged 18–45 years, incidence rates were 5.4 (4.3–6.9) overall, 4.1 (2.7–6.0) in men, and 6.7 (4.9–9.0) in women, before 2003. After 2003, incidence rates rose to 12.8 (10.7–15.1) overall, 12.0 (9.2–15.4) in men, and 13.6 (10.6–17.0) in women. In this age group, the men/women IRR was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.62–1.26, p = 0.08), although sex differences decreased over time (IRR = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.36–1.02, p = 0.046 before 2003, vs. IRR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.62–1.26, p = 0.48 after 2003). In individuals aged 45–55 years, incidence rates before 2003 were 47 (37–61) in men and 25 (17–35) in women (IRR = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.24–2.97, p < 0.001), and they increased to 82 (67–100) in men and 46 (35–59) in women (IRR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.29–2.49, p < 0.001) after 2003. Conclusions: The incidence of ischemic stroke in young adults increased during the early 2000s and remained stable thereafter. These results highlight the priority need for dedicated prevention strategies for the young to reduce the burden of stroke.

Background the ongoing growing and ageing population is associated with an increase in older patients suffering a stroke. We aimed to assess the current profile of these patients in a population-based setting. Methods all patients with acute stroke were prospectively identified among residents of Dijon, France, between 2013 and 2017, using a population-based registry. Characteristics and early outcome of patients were compared according to age groups. Results 1,288 stroke cases were recorded (median age: 81.1 years, interquartile range: 66.1–86.7, 54% women). Patients aged 75–85 years and those >85 years accounted for 27.6 and 33.9% of overall cases. Increasing age was associated with a greater prevalence of vascular risk factors, pre-existing cognitive impairment and handicap, higher initial severity, more frequent cardioembolic ischemic stroke, post-stroke pulmonary infection and delirium. Only 41% of patients aged 75–85 years and 18% of those aged >85 years had a good early recovery. Compared with patients aged 85 years (adjusted OR = 7.18; 95% CI: 4.58–11.3, P 85 years. Thirty per cent of patients >85 years old required a long-term care institution. Conclusion the increasing burden of stroke in older people has major implications for future treatment strategies and need for dedicated care facilities.

Background and Purpose: Because of several methodological limitations, previous studies focusing on the prevalence of large vessel occlusion in ischemic stroke (IS) patients provided conflicting results. We evaluated the incidence of IS with a visible arterial occlusion using a comprehensive population-based registry. Methods: Patients with acute IS were prospectively identified among residents of Dijon, France, using a population-based registry (2013–2017). All arterial imaging exams were reviewed to assess arterial occlusion. Annual incidence rates of IS (first-ever and recurrent events) and IS with a visible occlusion were calculated. Results: One thousand sixty cases of IS were recorded (mean age: 76.0±15.8 years, 53.9% women). Information about arterial imaging was available in 971 (91.6%) of them, and only preexisting dementia was independently associated with having missing information (odds ratio=0.34 [95% CI, 0.18–0.65], P =0.001). Among these patients, 284 (29.2%) had a visible arterial occlusion. Occlusion site was the anterior circulation in 226 patients (23.3% of overall patients with available data) and the posterior circulation in 58 patients (6.0%). A proximal occlusion of the anterior circulation was observed in 167 patients (17.2%). The crude annual incidence rate of total IS per 100 000 was 138 (95% CI, 129–146). Corresponding standardized rates were 66 (95% CI, 50–82) to the World Health Organization and 141 (95% CI, 118–164) to the 2013 European populations. The crude annual incidence rate of IS with a visible arterial occlusion per 100 000 was 37 (95% CI, 33–41) and that of IS with a proximal occlusion of the anterior circulation was 22 (95% CI, 18–25). Corresponding standardized rates were 18 (95% CI, 10–26) and 10 (95% CI, 8–13) to the World Health Organization population, and 38 (95% CI, 26–50) and 23 (95% CI, 19–26) to the 2013 European population, respectively. Conclusions: These results will be helpful to plan the need for thrombectomy-capable stroke center resources.

Objective: We assessed the association between pre-stroke cognitive status and 90-day case-fatality. Methods: Patients with ischemic stroke (IS) or spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) were prospectively identified among residents of Dijon, France, between 2013 and 2015, using a population-based registry. Association between pre-stroke cognitive status and case-fatality at 90 days was evaluated using Cox regression. Results: Seven hundred sixty-two patients were identified, and information about pre-stroke cognitive status was obtained for 716 (92.6%) of them, including 603 IS (84.2%) and 113 ICH (15.8%). Before stroke, 99 (13.8%) patients had mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 98 (13.7%) had dementia. Patients with cognitive impairment were older, had a higher prevalence of several risk factors, more severe stroke, more frequent ICH, and less admission to stroke unit. Case-fatality rate at 90 days was 11.7% in patients without cognitive impairment, 32.3% in MCI patients, and 55.1% in patients with dementia. In multivariable analyses, pre-existing MCI (hazard ratio [HR] 2.22, 95% CI 1.21–4.05, p = 0.009) and dementia (HR 4.35, 95% CI 2.49–7.61, p < 0.001) were both associated with 90-day case-fatality. Conclusion: Pre-stroke MCI and dementia were both associated with increased mortality. These associations were not fully explained by baseline characteristics, pre-stroke dependency, stroke severity or patient management, and underlying reasons need to be investigated.

Background and Purpose— The ongoing ageing population is associated with an increasing number of patients with stroke who have preexisting cognitive impairment. This study aimed to evaluate clinical severity in patients with ischemic stroke according to prestroke cognitive status. Methods— Patients with ischemic stroke were prospectively identified among residents of Dijon, France using a population-based registry (2013–2017). Prestroke cognitive status (no impairment, mild cognitive impairment [MCI], or dementia) was recorded, and severity at stroke onset was measured using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. Association between prestroke cognitive status and severity was evaluated using ordinal regression analysis models in which the NIHSS score was considered as a categorical variable. Results— Among the 1048 patients (mean age, 76.3±15.2 years; 54.0% women), a greater severity was observed in those with MCI (n=132; median NIHSS: 6; interquartile range, 2–15), and those with dementia (n=164; median NIHSS: 7; interquartile range, 3–16), than in patients without cognitive impairment (n=752; median NIHSS: 3; interquartile range, 1–9). MCI (odds ratio [OR], 1.70 [95% CI, 1.21–2.38]; P =0.002) and dementia (OR, 2.24 [95% CI, 1.65–3.04]; P P =0.04 for MCI; OR, 2.16 [95% CI, 1.45–3.22]; P P =0.06 for MCI, and OR, 1.98 [95% CI, 1.26–3.12]; P =0.02 for dementia). The greater severity in patients with prestroke cognitive impairment was not specifically driven by a more severe impairment of either motor or language function. Conclusions— Patients with preexisting cognitive impairment suffered more severe ischemic stroke. This result could reflect a lower brain tolerance of acute ischemia. Further studies are needed to explore the underlying mechanisms that could be targeted from therapeutic perspectives focusing on neuroprotection.

Background: We aimed to provide a representation of the global burden of stroke. Methods: All cases of stroke were prospectively identified through the population-based registry of Dijon, France (1987–2012). Attack rates and mortality rates (defined as stroke leading to death within 30 days) were standardized to the European standard. Sex differences and temporal trends were evaluated by calculating rate ratios (RRs). Results: In all, 5,285 stroke cases (52.7% women) were recorded. The standardized attack rate was 98.2/100,000/year and the mortality rate was 12/100,000/year, and both were lower in women than in men (RR 0.67, p < 0.001, and RR 0.70, p < 0.001, respectively). Attack rates increased over time (RR 1.016; 95% CI 1.013–1.020) irrespective of the stroke subtype. In contrast, mortality rates declined (RR 0.985; 95% CI 0.976–0.995) with decreasing rates for ischemic stroke but no change for intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage. The sex gap in both attack and mortality rates remained stable. Between the first (1987–1991) and the last (2007–2012) study periods, the annual number of stroke patients who survived beyond 30 days rose by 55%, Conclusions: Increasing attack rates and decreasing mortality have led to a rise in the number of stroke survivors in the population, thus indicating a growing need for the implementation of dedicated services.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the impact of the ageing population on temporal trends in burden of stroke and to provide projections for the coming years. Methods: Stroke cases (ischemic strokes, spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhages, or undetermined strokes) were prospectively identified between 1987 and 2015 in Dijon, France, using a population-based registry. Age-standardized incidence rates of first-ever and recurrent stroke were calculated, and their temporal trends were assessed using age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence rate ratios (RR). Results: The population of Dijon increased by 3.8% over time, with an increase by 28% in the number of residents aged ≥75 years. We recorded 5,899 strokes including 5,101 patients with a first-ever event. Incidence of first-ever stroke was stable both in people < 75 and ≥75 years old, but an increase in standardized incidence rates of total strokes was noted due to a rise in the incidence of recurrent stroke (from 4.7/100,000/year in 1987–1994 to 12.3/100,000/year in 2009–2015 in people < 75 years old, RR 1.036; p < 0.001; from 74/100,000/year in 1987–1994 to 200/100,000/year in 2009–2015 in people ≥75 years, RR 1.040; p < 0.001). The absolute number of first-ever strokes increased by 43%, and that of total stroke events rose by 58% over time, with a more pronounced increase in people ≥75 years old (+47 and +65% respectively). The annual number of patients who survived > 90 days after a first-ever stroke increased by 90%. According to demographic projections, the total number of strokes will increase by 55% (+65% patients ≥75 years, and +25% patients < 75 years) by 2,030 in Dijon. Conclusions: Ageing and growth of the population led to a rise in the absolute number of strokes, especially in the elderly, that is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years. Improved stroke care was accompanied with an increase in stroke survivors that contributed to a rise in recurrent events. Urgent action is needed to meet this epidemiological challenge.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the epidemiological features of transient ischemic attack (TIA). Methods: All TIAs were prospectively collected in Dijon, France, using a population-based registry (2013–2015). TIAs were considered the first-ever in patients who had no previous cerebrovascular events (CVEs); otherwise they were considered recurrent TIAs. Annual incidence (first-ever TIAs) and attack rates (first-ever and recurrent TIAs) were calculated. Results: Four hundred twenty TIAs were registered (255 first-ever and 165 recurrent TIAs, mean age: 74.1 ± 15.7 years). The age-standardized incidence rate (to the 2013 European population) was 61 (95% CI 46–76) and the attack rate was 81 (95% CI 64–99) per 100,000/year. Patients with TIA as a recurrent event had a greater prevalence of risk factors and preventive treatments. However, one third of them were not receiving antithrombotic agents or antihypertensive treatments, and half were not treated with statins at the time of their recurrence. The mean ABCD2 score was 4.3 ± 1.3, and 72% of patients had a high risk of recurrence (score ≥4). In patients with available MRI (23%), an infarct lesion was seen in 15.5%. Conclusions: TIA is a frequent occurrence and a large proportion of patients have a high risk of recurrence, thus highlighting the need to establish dedicated emergency services to administer prompt secondary prevention.