Evidence for age-dependent education-related differences in men and women with first-ever stroke. Results from a community-based incidence study in northern Sweden.

Several studies have shown a relationship between low socioeconomic status, age and stroke mortality. However, there is lack of similar studies in relation to stroke incidence. All cases of first-ever stroke occurring in a population aged 35-85 years from the city of Umeå were collected from hospital-based registers during a 2-year study period (2000-2002), from death certificates and also from nursing homes during a 6-month period. The WHO definition of stroke was used. Register data served to analyze educational level. A total of 457 first-ever strokes (244 women and 213 men) were registered, corresponding to an overall annual incidence rate of first-ever stroke of 413.4 per 100,000. The incidence of first-ever stroke was significantly higher among low-educated compared to high-educated men and women. The highest stroke incidence was found among low-educated women aged 75-85 years. The educational-related differences in stroke incidence persisted in the oldest age group (75-85 years), also after controlling for sex and age. This is one of the first studies that analyzes first-ever stroke incidence also among elderly men and women (75-85 years) in relation to socioeconomic status. More community-based studies are needed in order to confirm the results.